Admiral Paparo visits India to expand defence cooperation

Admiral Paparo, a senior U.S. military official, is visiting India, where he is meeting senior officials from the defence ministry and the country’s armed forces. Military officials from the two countries have said the expansion of defence cooperation is the focus of the talks.

Maritime security in the Indian Ocean, the exchange of strategic intelligence and the expansion of joint patrols have been listed among the issues under discussion in the meetings. The stated aim of this cooperation is to consolidate the U.S. military presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

In assessing the report, the expansion of military ties between Washington and New Delhi, including within the framework of the Quad group, is described as part of U.S. efforts to create security arrangements and expand its military influence in the Indian Ocean. The report also says that increased military cooperation could affect regional security equations and relations among South Asian countries and the Persian Gulf region.