India and New Zealand discuss ways of enhancing bilateral maritime cooperation between the two countries.
As part of his visit, Rear Admiral David Proctor, Chief of Navy for the Royal New Zealand Navy engaged in discussions with Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff for the Indian Navy, in New Delhi on February 20, 2024. He is currently undertaking an official visit to India from February 19 to 27, 2024.
The discussions included exploring opportunities for increased operational engagements, facilitating training exchanges, and fostering greater information sharing mechanisms. Rear Admiral Proctor’s visit also includes participation in the Indian Navy‘s Flagship Exercise MILAN 24, scheduled to take place in Visakhapatnam, along with engaging in high-level discussions at the Western Naval Command.
Maritime Cooperation
The maritime cooperation between the Indian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy has seen significant progress since the visit of the Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy to New Zealand in October 2022. During that visit, both navies concluded a Technical Arrangement on White Shipping Information Exchange, marking a milestone in their collaboration efforts.
Additionally, naval vessels from both countries have been regularly visiting each other’s ports, with the most recent port calls made by INS Kolkata and INS Sahyadri at Auckland and Wellington in September 2023. Furthermore, Indian Navy ships conducted Passage Exercise (PASSEX) manoeuvres with the Royal New Zealand Navy and the Royal New Zealand Air Force in the Tasman Sea following their departure.
Overall, his visit underscores the commitment of both India and New Zealand to strengthening their maritime cooperation and fostering closer ties between their respective naval forces. Through ongoing engagements and collaborative efforts, both navies aim to enhance regional security and promote stability in the maritime domain.