NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Monday began a multi-nation visit to Vietnam and South Korea aimed at strengthening strategic military cooperation, defence industrial partnerships and maritime collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region.In a post on X ahead of his departure, Singh said he was looking forward to expanding India’s engagement with both countries during the visit.“Today, 18th May, I shall be reaching Hanoi. Looking forward to visiting Vietnam and South Korea this week to further expand the scope of our engagement,” Singh wrote.He added that the discussions would focus on “deepening strategic military cooperation, strengthening defence industrial partnerships, and boosting maritime collaboration, promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”
India-Vietnam defence ties in focus
The visit comes weeks after Vietnamese President To Lam visited India earlier this month, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and To Lam reaffirmed that defence and security cooperation remains a key pillar of the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.As per the joint statement issued during To Lam’s visit on May 6, both countries agreed to further strengthen cooperation in traditional and emerging defence sectors, including joint exercises, defence policy dialogue, staff talks, co-production of new defence technologies, defence industrial cooperation and maritime security.The two sides also agreed to enhance naval and air force engagements, expand cooperation in hydrography, search and rescue operations, peacekeeping activities and defence exhibitions, while boosting information-sharing mechanisms aimed at ensuring stability in the Indo-Pacific region.India and Vietnam also reviewed the implementation of bilateral defence agreements, including the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement, the Memorandum of Agreement on Submarine Search and Rescue Support and Cooperation, and the Letter of Intent on Strengthening Defence Industrial Cooperation.The leaders additionally welcomed progress in implementing India’s Defence Lines of Credit extended to Vietnam, which have contributed to enhancing Hanoi’s defence capabilities.
Strategic partnership with South Korea
Singh’s South Korea leg of the visit follows recent high-level engagements between New Delhi and Seoul. During South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s India visit on April 20, both countries agreed to deepen strategic cooperation in defence, economic security, industrial collaboration and emerging technologies.India and South Korea also reaffirmed their commitment to a “free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific region” and agreed to expand institutional defence dialogue mechanisms, including a proposed 2+2 dialogue involving foreign and defence officials at the vice-minister level.The two countries also announced the launch of an Economic Security Dialogue aimed at strengthening supply chains, promoting diversification and advancing cooperation in critical technologies.