In a significant move to enhance strategic collaboration, Pakistan’s Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, has undertaken a crucial official visit to the United States, engaging in high-level discussions with senior American defence and state officials aimed at reinforcing maritime security and joint defence initiatives.
During the official tour, Admiral Ashraf conferred with top-ranking American military leaders, including the U.S. Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Vice Admiral Yvette Davids, and the Acting Vice Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Thomas G. Allan Jr. According to a statement from Inter-Services Public Relations on Friday, these deliberations centered on subjects of mutual professional interest, the dynamics of regional security, and avenues for improved maritime partnership and training exercises.
The naval chief’s itinerary also included a visit to the U.S. National Defence University (NDU), where he met its President, Vice Admiral Peter A. Garvin. Further diplomatic engagements occurred at the U.S. State Department with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, Mr. Stanley L. Brown. These dialogues covered a comprehensive range of topics, including politico-military teamwork, maritime safety, and capacity-building programs.
In an address to an assembly of U.S. scholars and representatives from various think tanks, Admiral Ashraf underscored the prevailing maritime security challenges within the region. He emphasized the proactive role the Pakistan Navy plays in cultivating regional stability and championing collaborative maritime security efforts.
This official engagement by the Chief of the Naval Staff reaffirms the enduring defence relationship between Pakistan and the United States, highlighting a shared commitment from both nations to advance security and cooperation across the maritime domain.