India, Vietnam to step up security, defence ties
30 Oct 2014 4:18 AM IST
The decision between prime minister Narendra Modi and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung, who held wide-ranging talks here, to boost defence and security ties is likely to irk China.
‘Our defence cooperation with Vietnam is among our most important ones. India remains committed to the modernisation of Vietnam’s defence and security forces,’ Modi said following his talks with Tan.
This will include expansion of training programme, which is already very substantial, joint exercises and cooperation in defence equipment.
‘We will quickly operationalise the 100 million dollars LoC that will enable Vietnam acquire new naval vessels from India. We have also agreed to enhance our security cooperation, including in counter-terrorism,’ Modi said.
According to official sources, Vietnam has agreed to buy four patrol vessels for its Navy under the LoC Scheme but is yet to formally identify the shipyard it wants them from.
Vietnam wants the vessel for surveillance off its coast and around its military bases in the Spratly island chain in the South China Sea where it is building a credible naval deterrent to China with Kilo-class submarines from Russia.
Sources also said that talks are on to train Vietnam Air Force pilots in flying Sukhoi fighters as well. India is already training the Vietnam Navy personnel in operating the Russian-origin Kilo-class submarine among other areas.
‘Our defence cooperation with Vietnam is among our most important ones. India remains committed to the modernisation of Vietnam’s defence and security forces,’ Modi said following his talks with Tan.
This will include expansion of training programme, which is already very substantial, joint exercises and cooperation in defence equipment.
‘We will quickly operationalise the 100 million dollars LoC that will enable Vietnam acquire new naval vessels from India. We have also agreed to enhance our security cooperation, including in counter-terrorism,’ Modi said.
According to official sources, Vietnam has agreed to buy four patrol vessels for its Navy under the LoC Scheme but is yet to formally identify the shipyard it wants them from.
Vietnam wants the vessel for surveillance off its coast and around its military bases in the Spratly island chain in the South China Sea where it is building a credible naval deterrent to China with Kilo-class submarines from Russia.
Sources also said that talks are on to train Vietnam Air Force pilots in flying Sukhoi fighters as well. India is already training the Vietnam Navy personnel in operating the Russian-origin Kilo-class submarine among other areas.
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