Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of the Naval Staff, will undertake an official visit to Australia and New Zealand commencing09 Sep 2026. The visit is aimed at further strengthening the Indian Navy’s bilateral cooperation with theRoyal Australian Navy (RAN)and theRoyal New Zealand Navy (RNZN).
The visit toAustraliabuilds upon the growing momentum inIndia–Australia relations, following theThird India-Australia Annual Summit held in Jul 2026and theSecond India–Australia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue held in Jun 2026. The two countries have continued to deepen cooperation in defence and security, including maritime security and regional cooperation.
During the visit,the CNS will hold bilateral discussions with the senior leadership of the RAN and engage with senior Australian defence leadership. The engagements will provide an opportunity to review ongoing naval cooperation and explore avenues for strengtheningoperational interaction, interoperability, information sharing, training and professional exchangesbetween the two navies.
The CNS will also visit key operational and training establishments and interact with personnel of the RAN. The engagements will include discussions onmaritime capabilities, emerging technologies and professional military education,reflecting the expanding scope of cooperationbetween the two navies.
The visit toNew Zealandbuilds upon the renewed momentum inIndia–New Zealand relations, following thevisit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to New Zealand in Jul 2026. During the visit,India and New Zealand elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnershipand agreed to deepen cooperation across several areas, including defence and maritime security.
In New Zealand, the CNS will hold discussions with the senior leadership of the RNZN and engage with senior New Zealand defence leadership. The engagements will focus on further strengtheningoperational interaction, information sharing, training and professional exchangesbetween the two navies.
The CNS will also visit key operational and training establishments and interact with personnel of the Royal New Zealand Navy and officers undergoing professional military education. The visit assumes significance in the backdrop of the recently concludedMaritime Cooperation Arrangement, which provides an expanded framework for practical maritime cooperation between India and New Zealand.
The visit underscores India’s growingdefence and maritime engagement with Australia and New Zealandand the commitment of the Indian Navy to further deepen cooperation with the Royal Australian Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy, through practical and sustained maritime engagement, contributing towardspeace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
