Indian senior officials and active-duty military officers visited Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana and Naval Station Norfolk Dec. 17, highlighting the depth and breadth of the U.S.-India defense partnership and the close ties between the two navies.

Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh, Ambassador to the United States Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Defense Secretary Ajay Kumar, and other senior officials were greeted by James Anderson, performing the duties of the deputy under secretary of Defense for policy; Rear Adm. Roy Kelley, commander of Naval Air Force Atlantic; Rear Adm. Francis Morley, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for international programs; and Capt. John Hewitt, commanding officer of NAS Oceana.

At NAS Oceana, the Indian delegation participated in a Boeing Mobile Flight Simulator and viewed an F/A-18E flight demonstration. In Norfolk they toured the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), whose commanding officer, Capt. Kyle Higgins, escorted them aboard.

India and the United States continue to build defense cooperation ties through military exercises, defense trade, and official visits and exchanges, including this visit to the largest U.S. naval base in the world.