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Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi embarked on an official visit to the United States on Wednesday to further consolidate bilateral naval cooperation between the Indian Navy and the US Navy. The visit highlights the increasing strategic alignment between the two maritime forces in promoting a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific region.
During the five-day visit, Admiral Tripathi is scheduled to hold discussions with senior officials of the U.S. Department of Defence and meet Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, Commander, United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), and Admiral Stephen T. Koehler, Commander, United States Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT), among other senior naval leaders and dignitaries.
These high-level interactions are expected to provide an opportunity to review ongoing maritime cooperation, enhance operational-level linkages, and reinforce mechanisms for information sharing and maritime domain awareness between the two navies.
The CNS will also visit key naval institutions and operational commands of the U.S. Navy. Discussions during these engagements will focus on shared maritime priorities in the Indo-Pacific and collaboration within multilateral frameworks such as Exercise MILAN and the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) initiatives.
Focus on MILAN 2026 and Indo-Pacific Cooperation
Exercise MILAN 2026, a flagship multinational naval exercise hosted by India, will be conducted in Visakhapatnam from 15 to 25 February 2026. For the first time, the event will be held concurrently with the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026 and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs, marking a significant milestone in India’s maritime diplomacy.
The biennial exercise is expected to witness participation from over 50 countries, including both the United States and Russia, underscoring India’s growing role as a hub for international naval engagement.
India and the United States share a long-standing maritime partnership rooted in mutual trust, shared democratic values, and a common vision for a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. Admiral Tripathi’s visit underscores the Indian Navy’s commitment to deepening cooperation with the U.S. Navy across operational, technological, and strategic domains.
Malabar Naval Exercise
The visit comes as India joins its key strategic partners, the United States, Japan, and Australia, for the latest edition of the Malabar naval exercise, which began on November 10 near Guam in the western Pacific. The nine-day exercise, hosted by the U.S. Navy, brings together frontline warships and aircraft from all four Quad countries to enhance coordination and readiness in the Indo-Pacific, amid growing regional challenges.
According to the Indian Navy, the country’s participation highlights “India’s enduring commitment to regional stability and its ability to operate seamlessly with partner navies across the Indo-Pacific.”
Despite facing steep trade tariffs from Washington, India’s decision to participate in the Malabar exercise reflects continuity in its strategic cooperation with like-minded nations. A senior naval official observed that the exercise demonstrates how “shared maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific transcend short-term political shifts.”
Team BharatShakti
