New Delhi: Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Chief of the Naval Staff is visiting Rhode Island, USA on a bilateral visit from 18 to 22 September 2018 for attending the 23rd edition of the International Seapower Symposium (ISS) organised by the US Navy.
The Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of the Naval Staff is scheduled to present his views on the topic ‘Defending the Maritime Commons: Safeguarding the Free and International Order’ and participate in panel discussion during the symposium.
During his visit, the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Chief of the Naval Staff is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with Admiral John M Richardson, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Admiral Philip S Davidson, Commander, Indo-Pacific Command (INDO-PACOM), Admiral John C Aquilino, Commander, Pacific Fleet (PACFLT), Admiral James G Foggo, Commander Naval Forces, Europe and Vice Admiral Scott Stearney, Commander NAVCENT and Commander 5th Fleet of the US Navy. In addition, he would be interacting with Chiefs of Navies of Japan, France, Australia, UK, Malaysia and Sweden as well as several other senior dignitaries.
India and USA have traditionally maintained close and friendly relations. The Defence relationship between the two countries has been one of mutual trust and confidence, which translated into the US according major Defence partner status to India in June 2016. In addition, both countries have concluded certain major agreements, which include the Defence Framework Agreement, signed in 2015, which lays a blue print for collaboration between the defence establishments of both countries, the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) signed in 2016, which is a foundational agreement, facilitating reciprocal logistics support between the Armed Forces of both countries and the more recent Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) signed on 06 September 2018, that will facilitate information-sharing between the Armed Forces of both nations.
The Indian Navy engages with the US Navy on numerous issues, which include operational interactions such as the MALABAR and RIMPAC series of exercises, training exchanges, exchange of White Shipping Information and Subject Matter Expert exchanges in various fields, all of which are coordinated through the medium of Executive Steering Group (ESG) meetings conducted annually. In addition, warships from both navies regularly make port calls at each other’s ports.
