India to boost maritime, defence cooperation with Aus, NZ

Indian Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh will visit Australia and New Zealand in the first week of September to explore further avenues for defence and maritime cooperation with the two nations.

A Navy official said on Saturday that Singh is scheduled for an official visit to Australia and New Zealand between September 2 and 6.

According to officials, Admiral Singh will also meet the naval chiefs of Australia and New Zealand during the course of his five-day visit. He will also meet senior defence and government officials of both countries during the visit.

India and Australia are bound by a Memorandum on Defence Cooperation that had been entered into by both countries in the year 2006 as well as the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation of 2009. Both countries also regularly conduct strategic dialogues and training exchanges under the Bilateral Framework for Security Cooperation of 2014.

Similarly, naval cooperation activities between India and New Zealand include port of calls by warships, conduct of passage exercises and participation in courses conducted at various defence institutes.
IANS