NEW DELHI: Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday began a four-day visit to Vietnam and South Korea to explore ways to enhance strategic defense cooperation, including joint production of military equipment.
Before leaving for the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, Singh said that his tour to the two Asian countries will focus on strengthening defense industrial partnerships, enhancing maritime cooperation, and promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
After concluding his trip to Vietnam, the Defense Minister will travel to South Korea on Tuesday for a three-day visit.
Singh’s visit to Vietnam comes days after the two countries raised their relations to an enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership during the visit of Vietnamese President Tu Lam to New Delhi.
In Hanoi, Singh is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with National Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang.
It is understood that the two sides will also deliberate on the prevailing situation in the South China Sea, an area that has witnessed increasing flexing of Chinese military muscle.
There have been growing concerns about China’s sweeping claims of sovereignty over the entire South China Sea, a huge source of hydrocarbons.
Several countries in the region, including Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei, have counterclaims.
India and many other democratic countries have been lobbying for peaceful settlement of disputes and adherence to international law, especially UNCLOS.
Singh and General Jiang will hold extensive talks on enhancing bilateral defense industrial cooperation, including joint development of military equipment, officials said.
A joint vision statement for India-Vietnam defense partnership till 2030 was signed as part of Singh’s last visit to Vietnam in 2022.
The vision statement clearly sets out a specific way forward for bilateral defense cooperation.
During his visit to South Korea, Singh will hold bilateral talks with Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-bak.
The Ministry of Defense said in a statement, “The two ministers will review defense cooperation between the two countries and explore new initiatives to enhance bilateral ties. They will also exchange views on regional and global issues of common interest.”
Singh will also meet Defense Procurement Program Administration Minister Lee Wong-cheol and chair the India-Korea Business Roundtable.
“The natural alignment of India’s East Policy and the Republic of Korea’s Indo-Pacific strategy, as well as shared values in the Indo-Pacific region, has opened a new chapter in relations between the two countries,” the ministry said.
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