Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, is on an official visit to India from April 2 to 6 to bolster bilateral maritime relations between the two nations. During his visit, he met with Admiral R. Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy in the national capital, to discuss increasing operational engagements, training exchanges, and information sharing. During his stay, he is also scheduled to meet with the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of the Air Staff, and Defence Secretary.
His visit includes key cities and prominent maritime regions across India. Vice Admiral Hammond’s itinerary includes visits to the Indian Navy’s Southern Naval Command in Kochi and Western Naval Command in Mumbai, where he will meet with the respective Commanders-in-Chief and visit significant naval installations like INS Vikrant, Druv Integrated Simulator Complex, and Naval Dockyard (Mumbai) and MDL.
India and Australia’s strong and mutually beneficial relationship in maritime security is supported by their shared perspectives on Indo-Pacific issues. Both nations actively engage in various bilateral and multilateral forums, such as the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS), ASEAN Defence Minister’s Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus), and Quad.
Vice Admiral Hammond’s visit followed the successful participation of the Royal Australian Ship HMNAS Warramunga in MILAN 24 and recent joint maritime exercises, further strengthening the ties between the two navies. The deepened cooperation addresses common challenges and fosters regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Deepening Maritime Ties
In the context of escalating geopolitical tensions in 2024, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, the strategic partnership between India and Australia has gained increased importance. Both nations have amplified their cooperation to address emerging challenges, including traditional security threats, cyber threats, and maritime domain awareness. The Quad, a strategic forum comprising India, Australia, the United States, and Japan, has experienced a resurgence in momentum, focusing on joint naval exercises, intelligence-sharing mechanisms, and capacity-building initiatives.
Bilateral engagements, including high-level visits and dialogues on maritime security, have fostered mutual understanding and enhanced coordination between India and Australia. The recent Indo-Pacific engagements and discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison demonstrate the commitment of both countries to strengthening their maritime partnership in pursuit of shared strategic objectives. As India and Australia adapt to the evolving dynamics of the Indo-Pacific, their maritime collaboration remains crucial in maintaining regional stability, security, and prosperity amidst the complexities of evolving geopolitics.
Team BharatShakti
