The Myanmar Navy Commander-in-Chief, Vice Admiral Thura Thet Swe, on Monday asked for naval arms assistance from India, during his four-day visit to New Delhi, as reported by The New Indian Express.
Also, the Commander discussed with Indian Navy Chief Admiral D K Joshi different manners of building up the navy -to -navy cooperation.
Within the framework of the visit, Admiral Thet Swe met with Indian Army and Air Force Chiefs from whom he requested help in operations, training and material support.
In addition, Myanmar asked for help in building OPVs and supply of naval sensors and other equipment.
The Myanmar Navy Commander will visit Kochi-based Southern Naval Command today and tomorrow he is going to visit the Visakhapatnam-based Eastern Naval Command.
“Myanmar is one of our closest neighbours. We share a land border as well as a maritime border with them. On the Navy-to-Navy front we have had extremely cordial relations,” Admiral Joshi stated.
Admiral Joshi added that the Indian Navy was looking forward to taking the existing excellent interaction to the next level. Admiral Thet Swe reemphasised the special relationship between the Myanmar Navy and the Indian Navy.
In the last few years Myanmar Navy has also sought assistance from the Indian Navy in constructing offshore patrol vessels, but the Indian Navy is yet to approve supply of the ships.
Indian and Myanmar navies performed joint drills in March this year, conducing training and coordinated patrols in the Bay of Bengal, according to the Times of India.
[mappress] NavalToday Staff, July 30, 2013; Image: Indian Navy