New Delhi, October 2026 : Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the US Pacific Command (USPACOM), met senior Indian defence officials during his ongoing visit to India, with discussions focused on strengthening the growing US-India Major Defence Partnership and advancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said he was honoured to host Paparo, describing him as one of the United States’ senior military leaders. USPACOM is the US military’s oldest and largest geographic combatant command and oversees around 400,000 military and civilian personnel across a region covering nearly half the globe, Gor said.
Paparo met Chief of Defence Staff General N.S. Raja Subramani, Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Air Marshal Tejinder Singh and other senior Indian defence officials.
Gor said the interaction highlighted the growing strength, ambition and strategic importance of the Major Defence Partnership between India and the United States.
Earlier, Paparo met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and held discussions on strengthening the bilateral security partnership and maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
“Glad to meet Commander of the US Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel J. Paparo. Discussed advancing our security partnership and maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.
Paparo arrived in New Delhi on Saturday for a six-day official visit aimed at further strengthening defence ties between the two countries. Ambassador Gor welcomed the US military commander on his arrival.
During his meetings with Indian counterparts, Paparo is discussing a range of shared security priorities, including digital transformation, emerging technologies, regional strategic stability and defence energy resilience.
The talks also cover the challenges arising from an increasingly competitive global technology environment and the need for both countries to strengthen their ability to respond to emerging security threats.
The US Embassy in India said Paparo’s visit reflected the expanding scope of bilateral defence cooperation.
“From emerging technology to maritime security, the United States and India are building a defence partnership equipped to meet the challenges of the future,” the embassy said.
It added that the visit underscored the strength of the Major Defence Partnership and reaffirmed the United States’ enduring presence and interests in the Indian Ocean region.
India and the United States have steadily expanded defence cooperation in recent years through military exercises, technology partnerships, defence trade and greater coordination on maritime security.
Paparo’s engagement with India’s top military leadership comes amid increasing focus on maintaining a stable and secure Indo-Pacific region. His meetings with Indian defence and diplomatic officials are expected to provide an opportunity to review shared priorities and identify areas for deeper operational and technological cooperation.
The visit also highlights the importance both countries attach to maritime security, emerging technologies and strategic coordination as they seek to address evolving security challenges across the Indo-Pacific.
