Vietnam, India advance defense ties
Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh affirms that Vietnam is the most important partner in India's Look East policy.
A delegation of Vietnam People’s Army led by Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang is visiting India to discuss ways to enhance security cooperation between the two nations.
| Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang, Vietnam's Chief of General Staff and Deputy Defense Minister and Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat. Photo: Indian Army |
Phan Van Giang, Chief of General Staff and Deputy Defense Minister, called upon and interacted with Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on November 25.
Giang also discussed issues of mutual and strategic concerns with India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh during a five-day visit beginning on November 24, Vietnamese and Indian media reported.
| Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang, Vietnamese Chief of General Staff and India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. Photo: Vietnamplus |
In the same day, Giang inspected Tri-Services Guard of Honor at South Block lawns in New Delhi, followed by a number of activities namely the signing of several agreements between the two militaries, courtesy calls on leaders of the Indian Defense Ministry and the Indian Government, meeting with the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of India, among others.
Vietnam and India have advanced robust defense cooperation which has benefited extensively from India’s Look East policy.
| The two sides inked some agreements during the visit. Photo: Vietnamplus |
Early October, Vietnam and India held the latest iteration of their defense policy dialogue which once again put the spotlight on growing security ties between the two Asian states.
Vietnam and India have been looking to advance their existing defense relationship as part of their wider ties, which were elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016.
Defense ties have grown in recent years to include not just the traditional components in this realm of ties like exchanges and port calls but also the training of personnel, capacity-building funding and equipment, coast guard collaboration, and pacts on areas such as white shipping and outer space, according to Prashanth Parameswaran at The Diplomat.
