The Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy, Admiral Nirmal Verma, visited the Russian Federation from 11 July to 18 July 2011, at the invitation of Admiral Vladimir Sergeivich Vysotskiy, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy. The visit was a return visit to that of the C-in-C of the Russian Navy to India in January 2011. It was aimed at further enhancing bilateral defence cooperation.
The Chief of the Indian Navy visited Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Kaliningrad and Severodvinsk, and interacted with a large number of senior Russian dignitaries including H.E. Mr A Antonov, Deputy Defence Minister and his counterpart, Admiral Vladimir S Vysotskiy, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy. The Admiral also visited various design bureaus and shipyards engaged in construction of ships for the Indian Navy. Issues related to defence cooperation and ongoing projects were discussed in these meetings. The Admiral was very warmly received and had extremely fruitful interaction during the meetings held at all the venues.
The Admiral laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Alexandorsky Sad in Moscow on 13 July 2011. Admiral Verma closely interacted with senior management of the Baltic Fleet, the Pacific Fleet, and also visited the Flag Ship of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy ‘Varyag’ in Vladivostok.
Admiral Verma has earlier trained in the erstwhile USSR as a crew member of a Kashin class destroyer. The Admiral last visited the Russian Federation as the Vice Chief of the Indian Navy in 2007.
