Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, June 8: India and Vietnam on Wednesday, signed a vision agreement to broaden the ‘scope and scale’ of defence ties by 2030, as well as a mutual logistics support pact that allows the forces of the two countries to utilise each other’s facilities for supply repair and replenishment.
The signing of the two documents, which came after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s ‘fruitful’ talks in Hanoi with his Vietnamese counterpart General Phan Van Giang, is seen as a major step forward in India-Vietnam strategic ties, as both countries are concerned about China’s growing muscle in the South China Sea.
The Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Logistics Support (MoU) is Vietnam’s first major agreement with another country. The agreement will allow both sides’ forces to utilise each other’s bases for repair and supply replenishment.
“In these times of increasing cooperative engagements between the defence forces of the two countries, this is a major step towards simplifying procedures for mutually beneficial logistic support and is the first such major agreement which Vietnam has signed with any country,” the Defence Ministry said.
“India and Vietnam continue to have the most trustworthy relations in contemporary times with broader convergence of interests and common concerns,” he added.
Notably, Singh arrived in Vietnam on Tuesday on a three-day visit.
“Had an excellent meeting with General Phan Van Giang, the Defence Minister of Vietnam. We renewed interactions on expanding bilateral cooperation. Our close Defence and Security cooperation is an important factor of stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” he tweeted.
Had an excellent meeting with General Phan Van Giang, the Defence Minister of Vietnam. We renewed interactions on expanding bilateral cooperation. Our close Defence and Security cooperation is an important factor of stability in the Indo-Pacific region. pic.twitter.com/lI0RCDHZbU
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 8, 2022
The signing of the vision document to strengthen bilateral defence and security cooperation comes as the two countries’ maritime security postures become more aligned in the face of China’s expanding muscle in the region. Singh will also meet with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh of Vietnam.
