Navy chief begins 5-day visit to Japan

The Indian Navy's two frontline warships, Shivalik and Kamorta, have already arrived in Yokosuka to participate in the IFR to be held at Sagami Bay on Sunday

Navy Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar on Saturday began a five-day visit to Japan to attend the International Fleet Review, the inaugural ceremony of the Malabar exercise and hold talks to further expand bilateral maritime ties.

The Indian Navy's two frontline warships, Shivalik and Kamorta, have already arrived in Yokosuka to participate in the IFR to be held at Sagami Bay on Sunday.

The IFR is being hosted to mark the 70th anniversary of the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF).

Apart from India, the navies of Australia, Brunei, Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America are attending it.

The IFR will be reviewed by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and include 40 ships and submarines from the participating countries, the officials said.

Announcing Admiral Kumar's visit to Japan from November 5 to 9, the Indian Navy said he will also attend the 18th Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) on November 7 and 8 at Yokohama.

"Apart from IFR and WPNS, he will also be in attendance for the inauguration of the 2022 edition of the Malabar exercise," a spokesperson of the Indian Navy said.