Indian Chief Of Naval Staff Attends International Seapower Symposium

Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), attended the 25th International Seapower Symposium (ISS) in the United States from September 19 to 22, 2023.

ISS, conducted by the US Navy at the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, provided a platform to engage with Fleet Commanders from various countries, working towards the shared vision of enhancing maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

On the sidelines of the ISS, CNS held bilateral engagements with counterparts from countries including the USA, Australia, Egypt, Fiji, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the UK. These extensive interactions demonstrate the Indian Navy’s steadfast commitment to realizing a Free, Open, and Inclusive Indo-Pacific, as well as an International Rules-Based Order.

During the visit, discussions were held to explore greater operational engagements between the Indian Navy and the US Navy at bilateral and multilateral exercises such as Malabar, RIMPAC, Sea Dragon, and Tiger Triumph. Both navies regularly exchange Subject Matter Experts to institutionalize interoperability in various fields.

At the ISS, CNS addressed challenges in Human Resource Management, particularly regarding recruitment and retention of trained personnel. He outlined India’s initiatives to address these issues through schemes like Agnipath, empowering women, and promoting gender neutrality within the Indian Navy.

The visit of CNS to the US provided a significant opportunity for high-level Navy-to-Navy engagements, deepening bilateral cooperation, and engaging with diverse partners across the Indo-Pacific.