- Rajnath Singh embarks on official visits to Vietnam and South Korea
- Talks to focus on defence, maritime and industrial cooperation
- India-Vietnam defence partnership marks 10 years
- Indian War Memorial to be inaugurated in South Korea
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 18th May: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday began an official visit to Vietnam and South Korea aimed at strengthening military cooperation, defence industrial partnerships and maritime collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Defence Minister will visit Vietnam from May 18 to 19 followed by South Korea from May 19 to 21.
Before departing, Rajnath Singh said the visits would focus on deepening strategic engagements and promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
During his Vietnam visit, Singh is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Vietnamese Defence Minister Phan Van Giang.
The visit comes as India and Vietnam complete 10 years of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which was recently upgraded to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the state visit of the Vietnamese President to India earlier this month.
India and Vietnam had signed a Joint Vision Statement on defence cooperation towards 2030 during Rajnath Singh’s previous visit in 2022.
The Defence Minister will also pay tribute to former Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh on his 136th birth anniversary by laying a wreath at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
In South Korea, Rajnath Singh will hold discussions with Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back to review bilateral defence cooperation and explore new areas of collaboration.
The Defence Minister is also expected to meet Lee Yong-cheol and chair the India-Korea business roundtable.
The visit will also highlight India’s historical contribution during the Korean War, particularly the role played by the Indian Army’s 60 Parachute Field Ambulance unit and the Custodian Force of India in humanitarian and repatriation efforts.
To honour Indian soldiers who served during the Korean War, a joint inauguration of the Indian War Memorial is scheduled in South Korea on May 21 alongside Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon Oh-eul.
The Defence Ministry said the alignment between India’s Act East Policy and South Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy has opened new avenues for strategic cooperation between the two countries.
