India, US hold first maritime security dialogue

In order to promote the partnership in the Maritime Field, India and US made the successful first round of discussion under the Maritime Security Dialogue. First round of Discussion: Discover the scope of maritime cooperation under the framework of this maritime dialogue at the bilateral and multilateral level to be brought up Venue: New Delhi Issues Discussed: Asia-Pacific Maritime Challenges Naval Cooperation Multilateral Engagement Delegates: Officials of Defence and External Affairs Ministries and US Counterparts Represents India: Joint secretary in charge of Planning and International Cooperation (PIC) in the Ministry of Defence –Shambhu Kumaran Ministry of External Affairs’ Joint secretary –MunuMahawar Represents America: Assistant secretary of Defence for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs –David Shear Deputy assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs –ManpreetAnand Vice-Admiral –Joseph Aucoin Initiatives Agreed: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and U.S. counterpart Ashton Carter acceded to the major initiatives while on visit to India as part of the maritime security objectives under the India-US Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region. Agreed to launch a bilateral Maritime Security Dialogue “White shipping” technical arrangement to improve data sharing on commercial shipping traffic Navy-to-Navy discussions on submarine safety and anti-submarine warfare