INDIA. Mumbai: A delegation of 11 members from the United States, led by Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of the United States Naval Forces Central Command, Commander of the Fifth Fleet, and Commander of the Combined Maritime Forces, visited Mumbai from Monday to Wednesday.
Accompanying the delegation were Mr Scott Ticknor, Acting Consul General/Deputy Principal Officer of the US Consulate in Mumbai, Captain David Wilcox, Resident Naval Attaché at the US Embassy in New Delhi, and Mrs Susan Cooper, wife of Brad Cooper.
During the visit, Vice Admiral Brad Cooper met Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command. The visiting delegation received a presentation on the roles, responsibilities, and activities of the Western Naval Command.
Vice Admiral Brad Cooper addressed the Operation Commanders and officers of the Western Naval Command, discussing the broad concept and role of the Combined Maritime Forces. Focused discussions took place to explore avenues for strengthening cooperation between the two navies to enhance regional maritime security, as stated in an official statement.
The delegation had the opportunity to tour the INS Chennai, the latest indigenous warship, as well as the Heritage Museum at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, where they were presented with an overview of India’s maritime history. Additionally, the delegation visited Mazgaon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) to learn about the indigenous shipbuilding capabilities of MDL. They also visited the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, a museum in Mumbai.
India and the US are engaged in the Maritime Security Dialogue, conducted annually, and their naval cooperation has witnessed substantial growth over the past two decades. The relationship between the two navies encompasses various aspects, including the annual bilateral exercise ‘Malabar,’ participation in the multilateral Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), high-level delegation visits, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges, and goodwill visits by naval ships.
“Both navies are committed to ensuring maritime security in the Indo-Pacific Region, where cooperation in the maritime domain is a crucial and enduring aspect of engagement between the two countries. The current visit by the US delegation further strengthens the relationship between these two great democracies,” added the statement.
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