Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, arrived in India on October 3 for a six-day visit aimed at strengthening the India-US Major Defence Partnership and expanding military-to-military cooperation.Paparo is scheduled to remain in India from October 3 to 8 and hold discussions with senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Armed Forces on shared security priorities across the Indo-Pacific region.Key HighlightsUS Indo-Pacific Command chief Admiral Samuel J. Paparo arrived in India on October 3.His visit will continue until October 8.Talks will focus on Indo-Pacific security and military cooperation.Emerging technologies and digital transformation are key areas of discussion.Maritime security and defence energy resilience are also on the agenda.Paparo previously visited India in February 2026.US Admiral Paparo’s India VisitAccording to the US Embassy in India, Paparo’s discussions will cover digital transformation, emerging critical technologies, regional strategic stability and defence energy resilience. Maritime security and the changing technology landscape are also expected to feature in the engagement.The visit comes as India and the US continue to expand military cooperation across several areas, including joint exercises, technology cooperation and operational coordination.Focus on Technology and Maritime SecurityEmerging technologies are expected to be an important part of the discussions during Paparo’s visit. Both countries have been exploring greater cooperation in defence technology and innovation as military capabilities increasingly depend on digital systems and advanced technologies.The US Embassy said the India-US defence partnership is being developed across areas ranging from emerging technology to maritime security.Defence energy resilience is another area highlighted for the current engagement, along with maintaining regional strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific.Paparo’s Earlier India Visit in 2026This is Paparo’s second visit to India in 2026. He previously visited India from February 14 to 19, when he met senior Indian defence officials and visited military and aerospace facilities in New Delhi, Chandimandir and Bengaluru.During that visit, Paparo discussed shared security interests with India’s senior military leadership and visited facilities linked to the Tejas fighter aircraft and defence technology. The two sides also discussed emerging domains including artificial intelligence and defence technologies.India-US Defence PartnershipIndia and the United States have expanded defence cooperation over the past several years through military exercises, logistics cooperation, information sharing and technology collaboration.Paparo’s latest visit provides another platform for the two countries to discuss regional security priorities and future areas of military cooperation, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.
