File Photo: Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Krishna Swaminathan speaking at an event in Mumbai | Photo credit: ANI
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan will embark on an official visit to Australia and New Zealand on Wednesday to further strengthen maritime cooperation with the navies of the two countries.
The visit to Australia comes amid growing momentum in India-Australia relations following the third India-Australia Annual Summit held in July 2026 and the second India-Australia Defense Ministers’ Dialogue held in June 2026. The two countries continue to deepen defense and security cooperation, including maritime security and regional cooperation.
During the visit, CNS will hold bilateral discussions with senior RAN officials and engage with senior Australian defense leaders, including Admiral Mark Hammond, Chief of the Defense Force, Vice Admiral Matthew Buckley, Commander, Royal Australian Navy, and Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Commander of Combined Operations, a Navy spokesman said.
The interactions will provide an opportunity to review current naval cooperation and explore ways to strengthen operational synergies, interoperability, information sharing, training and professional exchange between the two navies.
The CNS will also visit key operational and educational institutions and communicate with RAS personnel. The meetings will include discussions on maritime capabilities, new technologies and professional military education, reflecting the expanding opportunities for cooperation between the two navies.
The visit to New Zealand builds on the new momentum in India-New Zealand relations following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to New Zealand in July 2026. During the visit, India and New Zealand elevated their bilateral relationship to the level of a strategic partnership and agreed to deepen cooperation in several areas, including defense and maritime security, the spokesman said.
In New Zealand, the CNS will hold discussions with senior RNZN management and will engage with senior New Zealand defense management, the spokesman said. The interactions will focus on further strengthening operational synergies, information sharing, training and professional exchanges between the two navies.
CNS representatives will also visit key operational and training facilities and meet with Royal New Zealand Navy personnel and officers undergoing professional military education. The visit assumes significance in the backdrop of the recently concluded Maritime Cooperation Agreement, which provides an enhanced framework for practical maritime cooperation between India and New Zealand.
Published September 8, 2026