Indian Navy ships arrive in Vietnam to strengthen maritime cooperation
Hanoi, June 22
Indian Naval Ships Udaygiri and Kavaratti arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday on a port call to foster professional exchanges and further strengthen maritime cooperation between India and Vietnam.
"Indian Navy ships INS Udayagiri and INS Kavaratti, under the command of Rear Admiral Alok Ananda, YSM, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, arrived at Ho Chi Minh City on a port call to foster professional exchanges and further strengthen maritime cooperation between India and Vietnam," the Indian Embassy in Hanoi wrote on X.
"Maritime cooperation is one of the strongest pillars of the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Vietnam," it added.
The delegation includes 610 officers and sailors. They were welcomed by representatives from Vietnam's military, diplomatic agencies and Ho Chi Minh City authorities.
In May, during the visit of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and Vietnam President To Lam, both countries had reaffirmed that defence and security cooperation will remain a key pillar of the India- Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
New Delhi and Hanoi commended the effective implementation of the Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030, which continues to guide the growing defence ties between the two countries.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), To Lam and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had emphasised the maritime domain as one of the key pillars of their cooperation and called for enhanced maritime cooperation between the two sides.
They also noted that the bilateral Maritime Security Dialogue has fostered mutual trust and better understanding of respective concerns and underscored the importance of convening it regularly.
Vietnam thanked India for the invitation to assign an International Liaison Officer at the Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) at Gurugram, India, to strengthen cooperation in Maritime Domain Awareness. Prime Minister Modi welcomed Vietnam's joining the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and looked forward to enhanced cooperation under that framework.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone from the West, I think this is a smart move by India. China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea makes it essential for India to build strong maritime partnerships. Vietnam is a key player, and this port call will enhance interoperability and trust.
This is excellent for India's Act East policy! Vietnam has always been a reliable partner, and this port call is more than symbolic—it’s about practical cooperation in areas like maritime domain awareness. I hope we see more such exchanges in the future. 🌊
Respectful criticism: While this is good, I wonder if the Indian Navy’s focus on distant waters might stretch our resources thin. But I suppose strategic partnerships like this are essential for long-term security. Let's hope the budget allocation matches the ambition.
Proud moment for India! From the days of non-alignment to now being a key player in the Indo-Pacific, we’ve come a long way. The fact that Vietnam is joining the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative shows they trust India’s vision. Kudos to the Navy and the government! 👏
It’s interesting to see India stepping up its game in the region. The collaboration on maritime domain awareness through the IFC-IOR is particularly important for monitoring illegal fishing and piracy. This is the kind of soft power that builds real influence.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.