Navy chief in UAE to discuss ways to strengthen strategic ties

Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba today held talks with Chief of Staff of the UAE's armed forces Lt Gen Hamad Alrumaithi and discussed ways to strengthen strategic partnership in the area of defence and security.
Lanba and Alrumaithi deliberated on overall security situation in the region and resolved to deepen cooperation between navies of the two countries to thwart any possible threat.
The Navy chief, who arrived here on Sunday, has already held separate deliberations with Commander of UAE Naval Forces Major General Ebrahim Salem Mohammed Al Mushrakh and Matar Salem Ali Al Dahri, a key functionary in the UAE's Defence Ministry.

The talks focused on enhancing current level cooperation between naval forces of the two countries and boosting overall strategic defence ties in the wake of the current security scenario in the region, defence ministry sources said.
New Delhi is looking at increasing defence and security engagement with the UAE, a major player in the strategically important Gulf region.
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had visited India last month during which both sides had decided to step up defence and security cooperation.
On the second leg of his trip, Lanba will visit Oman from March 1-2 where he will hold bilateral talks with Bader Bin Saud Bin Harib Al Busaidi, Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs of Oman, as also with the three service chiefs.

The Admiral will visit the Sultan Qaboos Naval Academy and the Said Bin Naval Base where he will also tour the Fleet Maintenance Facility and the latest Khareef Class corvette, RNOV Al Shamikh.