US Indo-Pacific Commander Samuel Paparo Meets Andaman and Nicobar Command Chief to Strengthen Defence Ties

New Delhi, October 12, 2026: US Pacific Command chief Admiral Samuel Paparo met Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty, Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, to discuss continued defence cooperation between India and the United States ahead of Paparo’s visit to Japan.

The US Embassy in India announced the meeting on Monday, describing it as part of ongoing efforts to advance the bilateral Major Defence Partnership and promote regional security in the Indo-Pacific.

The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between the two countries’ armed forces as New Delhi and Washington seek to expand their strategic engagement amid evolving regional and global challenges.

Paparo arrived in New Delhi last week for an official visit aimed at advancing defence ties. During his stay, he held discussions with senior Indian defence officials on strategic cooperation and exchanged views on regional and international developments.

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh also met the US Pacific Command chief in the national capital. According to the Ministry of Defence, the two sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral defence and strategic cooperation and exchanged perspectives on regional and global issues.

Earlier, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor hosted Paparo at Roosevelt House during the admiral’s India visit from October 5 to 8. The engagement was part of Washington’s efforts to advance the India-US Major Defence Partnership.

Paparo heads the US Pacific Command, one of the American military’s largest geographic combatant commands, responsible for a vast area covering much of the Indo-Pacific region. The command oversees approximately 400,000 military and civilian personnel.

The latest meeting highlights the continued engagement between Indian and US military leadership as both countries work to deepen defence cooperation and support stability across the Indo-Pacific.