US Pacific Command chief Paparo begins India visit with emerging tech, maritime security on agenda
Admiral Samuel J Paparo, commander of US Pacific Command (Image courtesy: x/@USAndIndia)
New Delhi: Admiral Samuel J Paparo, the commander of US Pacific Command, arrived in India on Saturday for a six-day official visit aimed at advancing the India-US major defence partnership and deepening military-to-military cooperation. His October 3-8 programme includes talks with senior defence ministry and armed forces leaders on shared security priorities across the Indo-Pacific.
Digital transformation, emerging technologies, regional strategic stability, defence energy resilience and an increasingly competitive technology landscape are among the issues on the agenda. Maritime security will also feature as the two countries look to expand cooperation across operational, technological and information-sharing domains.
The US embassy in India also highlighted the visit in a post on X. “Welcome back to India, Admiral Paparo!” the embassy said, adding that the US Pacific Command chief had returned “to advance the U.S.-India defense partnership and our shared commitment to a secure, stable Indo-Pacific”.
“From emerging technology to maritime security, the United States and India are building a defence partnership equipped to meet the challenges of the future,” the embassy said in its accompanying announcement.
Technology cooperation has gained weight in the relationship since India and the US signed a new 10-year Framework for the US-India Major Defense Partnership in October 2025. The framework calls for deeper interoperability across land, sea, air, space and cyberspace, stronger maritime security and maritime domain awareness, and expanded collaboration on advanced defence technologies.
Defence energy resilience, another agenda on Adm Paparo’s agenda, broadly refers to the ability of military forces and infrastructure to maintain reliable energy supplies and sustain operations during disruptions. No specific project or new technology agreement has been announced in connection with the visit.
He has commanded US Pacific Command since May 2024 and is its 27th commander. The command was renamed from US Indo-Pacific Command back to US Pacific Command in June 2026 and is responsible for US military activities across the Indo-Pacific.
Second India visit this year
This is Adm Paparo’s second India visit in 2026. During his February 14-19 trip, he met the then chief of defence staff, General Anil Chauhan, and the then chief of the naval staff, Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi. He also visited Western Command headquarters at Chandimandir and travelled to Bengaluru, where he toured the National Flight Test Centre and engaged with India’s aerospace and defence technology ecosystem.
The latest visit follows Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2026, which concluded on September 27 after three weeks of bilateral training at Auli and the Mahajan field firing range, involving about 600 personnel from each army.
On September 28, the Indian Army chief, General Dhiraj Seth, and Lieutenant General Joel B Vowell, deputy commanding general of US Army Pacific, discussed the evolving Indo-Pacific security environment, interoperability and future military cooperation, as RNA Media reported earlier.
Adm Paparo is scheduled to remain in India until October 8. Any specific agreements or follow-on initiatives will depend on discussions with his Indian counterparts.
