CHENNAI — The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) convened their 7th High-Level Meeting (HLM) in Chennai on August 25 under the established framework of their 2015 Memorandum of Understanding on Coast Guard Cooperation.
The high-level session was co-chaired by Director General Paramesh Sivamani, Director General of the Indian Coast Guard, and Major General Luong Dinh Hung, Vice Commandant of the Vietnam Coast Guard.
Key Pillars of Bilateral Cooperation
Delegations from both sides reviewed ongoing operational engagements and outlined strategies to deepen maritime partnership and regional security across several core areas:
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Operational Focus Areas: Discussions centered on expanding coordination across Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR), Maritime Law Enforcement, Marine Pollution Response, and joint capacity-building initiatives.
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Institutional Engagement: Both agencies emphasized expanding regular institutional dialogues, professional exchanges, cross-training programs, and mutual ship visits to strengthen operational interoperability.
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Regional Maritime Commitment: The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of India and Vietnam toward ensuring maritime safety, security, and environmental sustainability across regional waters.
Upcoming Joint Maritime Exercise: SAHYOG-HOPTAC
As part of the ongoing bilateral schedule, the two forces will participate in the joint maritime exercise SAHYOG-HOPTAC, scheduled to take place at sea off Chennai on August 27, 2026.
The exercise aims to operationalize the HLM discussions by testing joint response protocols, strengthening practical interoperability, and facilitating real-time best-practice sharing between the two maritime security agencies.
