As part of his six-day visit to India aimed at strengthening naval cooperation between India and the U.S., Admiral Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) of the United States Navy, will visit Kochi on Thursday.
Pertinently, Admiral Roughead's visit happens during the run-up to the 2010 edition of the MALABAR series of exercises scheduled to take place from April 23 to May 2. Four capital warships, a submarine and a few aircraft from each side are slated to take part in the annual exercise. Arriving at Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) on Thursday morning for a day-long visit, Admiral Roughead will have a meeting with Vice-Admiral Krishnan Nair Sushil, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command, who will brief the U.S. Navy Chief on various training activities undertaken by the training command of the Navy. Following this, Admiral Roughead will visit the Navigation Direction School at the Naval Base.
In the afternoon, Admiral Roughead will have a few private engagements and social commitments. He will leave India on Friday.
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Earlier, on his arrival on Monday, Admiral Roughead was given a ceremonial guard of honour in New Delhi. The Admiral held discussions with Indian Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma, Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, Army Chief General V. K. Singh and Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar.
The Indian Navy, in a pressnote, said that cooperation between Indian and U.S. Navies had been growing steadily. “Consistent Navy-to-Navy engagement has led to both Navies recognising and respecting each other's competencies with mutual trust and confidence. Consequent to the Malabar series of exercises both Navies have achieved increased interoperability,” it said.