With an effort to consolidate the Navy-to-Navy cooperation and to strengthen the relationship in tune with India’s Act East policy, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral RK Dhowan will be going on a five-day tour to Singapore and Thailand.
Dhowan will be visiting Singapore from 20-22 July and Thailand from July 23-25.
During the Singapore visit, Dhowan will meet various dignitaries, including that country’s defence minister, chief of defence forces and the Chief of Navy. He will also visit the prestigious Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute (SAFTI MI) to interact with the faculty and officers there.
An overview of the operational facilities at the Changi Naval base is also planned besides briefings on the International Data Fusion Centre (IFC), the Maritime Crisis Centre, the Regional Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR), the Coordination Centre (RHCC) and the Maritime Security Task Force looking after coastal security of Singapore.
In Thailand, Dhowan will interact with the defence minister, chief of defence forces and commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy.
Major areas are being considered for furthering the cooperation between the navies, including hydrography, developing comprehensive Maritime Domain Awareness through exchange of White Shipping information, increasing scope of coordinated patrolling among other such areas.
India and Thailand share a maritime boundary in the Andaman Sea.