Navy Chief heads to Australia, New Zealand to deepen Indo-Pacific maritime ties
Admiral Krishna Swaminathan begins an official visit to Australia and New Zealand on September 9 to strengthen naval cooperation and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan will begin an official visit to Australia and New Zealand on September 9, 2026, with the aim of deepening bilateral naval cooperation with both countries.
In Australia, Admiral Swaminathan is scheduled to meet Vice Admiral Matthew Buckley, Chief of Navy of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), and hold talks with other senior defence officials, including Admiral Mark Hammond, Chief of the Defence Force, and Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Commander Joint Operations.
The visit builds on recent momentum in India-Australia relations, following the Third India-Australia Annual Summit in July 2026 and the Second India-Australia Defence Ministers' Dialogue in June. Discussions are expected to review ongoing naval cooperation and explore ways to enhance operational interaction, interoperability, information sharing, training, and professional exchanges between the Indian Navy and the RAN.
Admiral Swaminathan will also visit key operational and training establishments and interact with RAN personnel. The talks will cover maritime capabilities, emerging technologies, and professional military education.
In New Zealand, the Naval Chief will meet Rear Admiral Garin Golding, Chief of Navy of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), and engage with senior defence leadership. The engagements will focus on strengthening operational interaction, information sharing, training, and professional exchanges between the two navies.
This leg of the visit follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trip to New Zealand in July 2026, during which the two nations elevated ties to a Strategic Partnership and agreed to deepen cooperation in defence and maritime security. The visit also comes in the backdrop of the recently concluded Maritime Cooperation Arrangement, which provides a framework for practical maritime cooperation between India and New Zealand.
Admiral Swaminathan will visit important operational and training establishments in New Zealand and interact with RNZN personnel and officers undergoing professional military education.
The visit underscores India's growing maritime engagement with Australia and New Zealand and reflects the Indian Navy's focus on sustained practical cooperation with like-minded partners. The engagements are expected to contribute to peace, security, and stability in the strategically significant Indo-Pacific region.