NEW DELHI: Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi is now headed for Indonesia as part of India’s ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral defence relations, with a focus on enhancing na-val cooperation.
Admiral Tripathi, during his Dec 15-18 visit, is slated to discuss measures to boost strategic-military ties with Indonesian defence minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, commander of armed forces General Agus Subiyanto, and navy chief of staff Admiral Muhammed Ali.
“The discussions are expected to cover a broad spectrum of defence cooperation areas, particularly maritime security, joint training initiatives, and exploring avenues for further strengthening operational collaboration between the two navies,” an officer said.
The existing maritime cooperation encompasses a range of activities, including joint combat exercises, port visits by warships, and training initiatives aimed at building capacity.
The 43rd India-Indonesia coordinated patrol, incidentally, is currently under way along the international maritime boundary line.
“The visit underscores the strong maritime relations between the two countries conforming to the shared vision of India-Indonesia cooperation in the Indo-Pacific,” he added.
With an eye firmly on an aggressive and expansionist China in the crucial Indo-Pacific region, India has been steadily deepening military ties with Asean countries like Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia and Philippines through regular joint exercises, military exchanges, arms sales and training programmes.
India also hopes that the $375 million contract to supply three anti-ship coastal batteries of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines, which was inked in Jan 2022, will pave way for more such deals with other Asean countries like Indonesia and Vietnam.
