Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), undertook an official visit to Australia and New Zealand starting 9 September 2026. The aim of the visit was to strengthen the Indian Navy’s bilateral cooperation with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN).

The visit to Australia built 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 held bilateral discussions with the senior leadership of the RAN and engaged with senior Australian defence leadership. The engagements provided 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 also visited key operational and training establishments and interacted with personnel of the RAN. The engagements included discussions on maritime capabilities, emerging technologies and professional military education, reflecting the expanding scope of cooperation between the two navies.

The visit to New Zealand built 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.

In New Zealand, the CNS held discussions with the senior leadership of the RNZN and engaged with senior New Zealand defence leadership. The engagements focused on further strengthening of operational interaction, information sharing, training and professional exchanges between the two navies.

The CNS also visited key operational and training establishments and interacted with personnel of the RNZN and officers undergoing professional military education. The visit assumed 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.

The visit underscored India’s growing defence and maritime engagement with Australia and New Zealand and the commitment of the Indian Navy to further deepen cooperation with the RAN and RNZN, through practical and sustained maritime engagement, contributing toward peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.