NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has departed on a four-day official tour to Vietnam (May 18–19) and the Republic of Korea (May 19–21). The high-level diplomatic mission is designed to fast-track military cooperation, co-development of defence hardware, and enhanced maritime security across the Indo-Pacific.
Vietnam Leg: Cementing the Enhanced Strategic Partnership
Rajnath Singh’s arrival in Hanoi marks exactly 10 years of the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The ties were elevated to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership earlier this month during the Vietnamese President’s state visit to India.
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Bilateral Talks: Singh will hold extensive defense reviews with Vietnam’s Minister of National Defence, General Phan Van Giang, assessing the blueprints established under the Joint Vision Statement of India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030.
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Diplomatic Tribute: Coinciding with the 136th birth anniversary of Vietnam’s founding father Ho Chi Minh on May 19, the Defence Minister will lay a wreath at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
South Korea Leg: Defence Tech Partnerships & War Memorial Inauguration
In Seoul, discussions will pivot toward high-tech defense manufacturing and industrial defense offsets under the alignment of India’s ‘Act East Policy’ and South Korea’s ‘Indo-Pacific Strategy’.
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Industrial Collaboration: Singh will hold bilateral talks with South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back and meet with Lee Yong-cheol, Minister of the Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). He will also chair an India-Korea Business Roundtable to pitch co-production opportunities to Korean defense majors.
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Historic Milestone: To honor India’s extensive humanitarian and peacekeeping role during the Korean War (including the legendary 60 Parachute Field Ambulance and the Custodian Force of India), Rajnath Singh and South Korean Veterans Minister Kwon Oh-eul will jointly inaugurate the Indian War Memorial on May 21.
