India and Vietnam have taken significant steps to strengthen their strategic defence partnership during high-level talks in Hanoi, with both nations agreeing to expand cooperation into critical emerging domains including cybersecurity and real-time information sharing.
Key Agreements Signed
The Defence Policy Dialogue, held on Monday in Hanoi, witnessed the signing of multiple important documents that will shape the future of bilateral defence relations. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Vietnam's Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lt-General Hoang Xuan Chien co-chaired the meeting that produced substantial outcomes.
Among the most significant agreements was a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on submarine search and rescue collaboration. This partnership will enhance maritime safety and operational capabilities for both navies in the strategically important South China Sea region.
Expanding Defence Cooperation Areas
The comprehensive review covered multiple ongoing cooperation areas showing promising progress. Both nations examined developments in:
- Hydrography cooperation for maritime navigation
- Capacity building and training programs
- Increased port calls and warship visits
- Advanced technology domains including artificial intelligence
- Shipyard upgradation projects
The dialogue particularly emphasized the importance of emerging security domains, with cybersecurity and real-time information exchange identified as priority areas for future collaboration.
Defence Industry Partnership
In a major boost to defence manufacturing cooperation, the two countries signed a "Letter of Intent" aimed at strengthening defence-industry ties. This agreement focuses on multiple strategic areas:
- Technology transfer initiatives
- Priority access to high-tech and core-technology domains
- Joint research cooperation programs
- Establishment of joint ventures
- Procurement of equipment and materials for defence production
- Exchange of experts and technical personnel
- Collaborative design and production of defence equipment
An official statement highlighted the strategic importance of the relationship, noting that "bilateral defence cooperation is an important pillar of India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership." The statement further emphasized that "Vietnam holds a key position in India's Act East Policy and is an important partner in India's Indo-Pacific vision."
The enhanced defence cooperation comes at a crucial time when both nations are seeking to strengthen their security capabilities in the rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific region. The agreements signal a deepening strategic alignment between the two countries that share common concerns about regional security stability.
