On Tuesday, India and Vietnam met virtually to discuss ways to strengthen their maritime security cooperation to adapt to the evolving regional environment. The discussions took place as part of the second maritime security dialogue between the two allies. According to a statement released by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, “The consultations involved exchanges on developments in the domain of maritime security, regional cooperation activities and opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.”
In recent years, defence and security ties between the two countries have expanded steadily. In 2016, India and Vietnam upgraded their relationship to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership. Since then, defence cooperation has been a strong pillar of the rapidly expanding bilateral relationship and India has been an enthusiastic supporter of Vietnam’s naval modernisation.
Under a $100 million defence credit line, India is currently in the process of building 12 high-speed patrol boats for Vietnam, while talks on “collaboration on ship construction and surface and subsurface capacity at sea” have also taken place. Further, the Indian Armed Forces have assisted the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN) in capacity building, especially in the field of human resource development. India has also expressed a willingness to enhance the scope and level of training for all three sectors of the Vietnamese defence force in Indian defence institutes.
Last December, India and Vietnam concluded a two-day passage exercise (PASSEX) in the disputed South China Sea (SCS) to enhance maritime security cooperation. The exercise followed Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s virtual summit that month with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, during which the allies vowed to boost overall defence and security cooperation, including in the maritime sphere.
Prior to that, in a meeting in November, India and Vietnam discussed various avenues for cooperation, including capacity building of their defence industry, and training and cooperation in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations. During the talks, Vietnamese Defence Minister Ngô Xuân Lịch also invited Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus, which was virtually hosted by Hanoi on December 10.
Discussions on maritime cooperation between Vietnam and India come at a time when China has been ramping up activity in the South China Sea (SCS), especially in the wake of the passage of its controversial China Coast Guard (CCG) Law. Vietnam has previously offered India the opportunity to expand its oil and gas exploration in the SCS in areas that Hanoi firmly believes fall within Vietnam’s economic zone. Vietnam’s claims to the SCS are challenged by China’s assertion of its controversial nine-dash line, which infringes on islands, reefs, banks and shoals in the contested waters—including the Paracel Islands, Pratas Island, Macclesfield Bank, Scarborough Shoal, and the Spratly Islands—that are contested between China, Taiwan, and Vietnam. In this regard, it has become essential for India and Vietnam to strengthen their maritime cooperation to protect their mutual interests in the maritime realm.
India and Vietnam Pledge to Collaborate on Maritime and Regional Security Issues
On Tuesday, India and Vietnam virtually discussed maritime security and regional cooperation as part of the second maritime security dialogue between the two countries.
April 7, 2021
SOURCE: DNA