India-Vietnam deepen defence ties as Eastern fleet ships arrive at Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, June 24
As India and Vietnam deepen their defence partnership, the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet's warships- INS Udaygiri, a stealth frigate, and INS Kavaratti, an anti-submarine warfare corvette, both indigenously designed and constructed warships of the Indian Navy, arrived at Nha Rong Port, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on Monday during their operational deployment to the South East Asia region.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said that the ships, led by RAdm Alok Ananda, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, were accorded a warm ceremonial welcome by personnel from the Vietnam People's Navy, representatives of the HCMC People's Committee, and port authorities. The reception reflected the close, longstanding ties between the two navies and the growing maritime partnership between India and Vietnam.
During the port call, the Indian Navy and the Vietnam People's Navy will undertake a series of professional interactions, cross-deck exchanges, sporting fixtures and community outreach activities. Senior leadership interactions are also scheduled, offering an opportunity to exchange perspectives and further strengthen bilateral naval cooperation, the statement said.
It further highlighted how the deployment marks the Indian Navy's first major presence in Vietnam since the bilateral relationship was elevated to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in May 2026.
The Joint Statement in May noted how on the defence front, the leaders reaffirmed that defence and security cooperation is a key pillar of the India- Viet Nam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They commended the effective implementation of the Joint Vision Statement on India- Viet Nam Defence Partnership towards 2030, which continues to guide the growing defence ties between the two countries.
The Joint Statement further observed that the leaders agreed to further strengthen cooperation and enhance engagements in both traditional and emerging areas of defence cooperation, including defence policy dialogue, joint exercises, staff talks, joint research and co-production of new defence technologies, enhanced port calls by Naval vessels and Air force aircrafts, peacekeeping activities, information sharing, hydrography, defence exhibitions, capacity building, defence industrial cooperation, maritime security, maritime safety, and search and rescue operations based on mutual interest and priorities of the two countries, which will also contribute to greater stability in the wider Indo-Pacific region. They also decided to enhance defence systems procurement between the two countries.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's heartening to see India's Eastern Fleet making its presence felt in the South China Sea. The enhanced joint exercises, port calls, and co-production talks show real substance beyond just photo ops. But I hope the government ensures these defence deals are transparent and benefit our domestic industries, not just foreign contractors. Otherwise, it's a good move.
Vietnam is a reliable partner in ASEAN, and these port calls are essential for countering China's assertiveness in the region. Kudos to the Navy for arranging cross-deck visits and sports fixtures—these little things build trust. India must also focus on joint exercises like 'MILAN' to make Vietnam a regular participant. This is the way forward for maritime security. 🇮🇳✊
While this is a fantastic diplomatic milestone, I worry about the cost of such deployments. Is the government allocating enough for our fishermen's safety and coastal infrastructure? These high-profile visits are great for strategy, but ground-level maritime security also needs attention. Still, happy to see our indigenous ships sailing proudly in Vietnamese waters. 🌊
The 'Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' sounds promising on paper, but I hope this translates into tangible benefits like technology transfer and joint research. India has strong IT and defence sectors—why not co-produce naval drones or surveillance systems with Vietnam? That would really bolster the Indo-Pacific region's stability. Go India! 🚢✨
India's Eastern Fleet is doing great work in South East Asia. The mention
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