New Delhi host 14th Indo-Vietnamese Defence Policy Dialogue

India hosted the 14th India-Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue in New Delhi on 1 August 2024. The meeting was part of the wider military-to-military dialogue between the two countries to strengthen the bilateral defence relationship. 

The dialogue coincided with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official three-day visit to India from 30 July to 1 August 2024. 

Who chaired the 14th India-Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue? 

The 14th India-Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue was co-chaired by the Indian Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of National Defence, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien.

Agenda of the Meeting 

During the meeting, both sides reviewed the range of bilateral defence cooperation issues. The Vietnamese side proposed five focus areas for cooperation - delegation exchanges and dialogue, staff talks, Service-to-Service cooperation, education and training, and Defence Industry cooperation.

While welcoming the Vietnamese proposal, the Indian side proposed cooperation in emerging areas of concern for both countries, such as Submarine Search and rescue, Cyber Security, Information Security, and  Military Medicine.

Later, both sides signed a Letter of Intent to strengthen cooperation in the field of training, including the exchange of instructors and experts.

For details about the Vietnamese Prime Minister's visit, click

India-Vietnam Defence Cooperation 

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Vietnam in 2016, bilateral relations were elevated to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”

Defence and security cooperation is an important pillar of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Vietnam in June 2022, and a new "Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030” and a “Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Logistics Support” were signed between the two countries.

There is a frequent visit of high-ranking Ministers and defence officials between the two countries.