India-Vietnam ties

• 50th anniversary of India and Vietnam diplomatic relations.

Indo-Vietnamese Relations:

• Initiated during the 1980s, developed as structured and institutional arrangements during the 1990s.
• Under India’s ‘Act East Policy’, Vietnam became crucial in political and security engagements in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Working to address shared strategic concerns (such as energy security and open and secure sea lines of communication).
• Vietnam is one of the choke points to control ‘the South China Sea’. Crucial for Maritime Trade of India (over 90% by volume and 70% by value)
• With declaration of a strategic partnership in 2007 and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2016, defense cooperation is deepening

• Strategic Cooperation Initiatives:
• Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA),
• Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC),
• Mekong-Ganga Cooperation,
• ADMM-Plus or the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus.
• ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (proposed)
• Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)

• Defense Cooperation Initiatives:
• ‘Joint Vision for Defense Cooperation’ and a MoU on mutual logistics support signed in June 2022.
• India announced U.S.$500 million Defense Line of Credit to enhance Vietnam’s defense capability.
• India has agreed to expand military training and assist the Vietnam Navy’s strike capabilities.
  • Comprehensive underwater combat operation training to Vietnamese sailors at INS Satavahana in Visakhapatnam.
  • India handed over 12 high-speed boats to Vietnam
  • A Khukri-class corvette is also expected to be gifted soon.
  • Vietnam is planning to acquire Indian-manufactured surveillance equipment such as unmanned aerial vehicles’.

Factors for increasing Indo-Vietnamese Engagement:

• India’s aspiration to counter an assertive China
• India’s increasing trade with East and SE Asia and geo-economic position of South China Sea
• India’s desire to intensify maritime presence to safeguard its national interests
• Extending its naval presence, critical to deter potential adversaries.
• Ensuring openness and stability of maritime commons for international trade and prosperity.