New Delhi: Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, interacted with US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Stephen Thomas Koehler in New Delhi on Monday. The two senior naval leaders discussed key issues related to maritime security, focusing on enhancing information-sharing, regional security, joint exercises, and improving interoperability between the Indian and US navies.The meeting comes ahead of the 28th edition of the Malabar exercise, a major naval drill hosted by India off the coast of Visakhapatnam, which commenced today. Admiral Koehler will be attending the exercise, which is a key component of the broader defense cooperation between the two countries and aims to strengthen coordination in the Indo-Pacific region.The Malabar exercise, involving India, the US, Japan, and Australia, reflects the growing partnership between these nations in maintaining peace, security, and stability in the region. This edition of the exercise will focus on various complex naval operations, including anti-submarine warfare, air defense, and live-fire drills.The interaction between Admiral Tripathi and Admiral Koehler underscores the continuing strategic alignment between India and the US, particularly in addressing shared challenges in maritime security.