Jaishankar meets U.S. Indo-Pacific commander Paparo, discusses maritime security

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday (October 4, 2026) held talks with Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Admiral Samuel J. Paparo on advancing the India-U.S. security partnership and strengthening maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor was also present at the meeting.

“Glad to meet Commander of the US Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel J. Paparo. Discussed advancing our security partnership and maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific,” Mr. Jaishankar said in a post on X.

Admiral Paparo is on a five-day visit to India from October 3 to 8 as Washington seeks to deepen military-to-military cooperation with New Delhi and advance the Major Defense Partnership between the two countries.

During his visit, Admiral Paparo is expected to hold talks with Indian military and government officials on a range of shared security priorities, including digital transformation, emerging technologies, regional strategic stability, defence energy resilience and the challenges arising from an increasingly competitive technology landscape.

The visit assumes significance amid expanding India-U.S. cooperation across the Indo-Pacific, particularly in maritime security, domain awareness, emerging technologies and military interoperability.

It also comes as India and the U.S., along with Australia and Japan, continue to strengthen cooperation through the Quad, with maritime security, a free and open Indo-Pacific, critical and emerging technologies and regional resilience forming key areas of their agenda.

The U.S. has described the broader defence partnership with India as one aimed at preparing both countries to address emerging security challenges, with cooperation ranging from emerging technologies to maritime security.

Admiral Paparo’s visit also underscores Washington’s continued engagement with India and its strategic interests in the Indian Ocean Region, where India has positioned itself as a first responder and a key security partner.

The U.S. Pacific Command, which oversees American military operations across the Indo-Pacific, plays a central role in Washington’s engagement with regional partners on maritime security, strategic stability and emerging security challenges.