Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan to visit Australia, New Zealand to boost ties

Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, will embark on an official visit to Australia and New Zealand from Wednesday to further strengthen maritime cooperation with the navies of the two countries. The visit to Australia builds upon the growing momentum in India–Australia relations, following the Third India-Australia Annual Summit held in July 2026 and the Second India–Australia Defence Ministers' Dialogue held in June 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 including Admiral Mark Hammond, Chief of the Defence Force, Vice Admiral Matthew Buckley, Chief of Navy, Royal Australian Navy, and Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Commander Joint Operations, a Navy spokesperson said. The engagements will provide an opportunity to review ongoing naval cooperation and explore avenues for strengthening operational interaction, interoperability, information sharing, training and professional exchanges between 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 on maritime capabilities, emerging technologies and professional military education, reflecting the expanding scope for cooperation between the two navies. The visit to New Zealand builds upon the renewed momentum in India–New Zealand relations, following the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to New Zealand in July 2026. During the visit, India and New Zealand elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership and agreed to deepen cooperation across several areas, including defence and maritime security, the spokesperson stated. In New Zealand, the CNS will hold discussions with the senior leadership of the RNZN and engage with senior New Zealand defence leadership, the spokesperson informed. The engagements will focus on further strengthening operational interaction, information sharing, training and professional exchanges between 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 concluded Maritime Cooperation Arrangement, which provides an expanded framework for practical maritime cooperation between India and New Zealand. Published on September 8, 2026