Rajnath Singh embarks on a tour to Vietnam and South Korea to deepen 'strategic military cooperation'

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday embarked on a tour to Vietnam and South Korea for further deepening of “strategic military cooperation” and boosting “maritime cooperation” amid an increasing footprint of Chinese Navy in the Indian Ocean region.

Rajnath’s visit to Vietnam comes close on the heels of Vietnam President To Lam’s bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier thin month in Delhi during which the two countries agreed upon further strengthening defence cooperation with the aim of stabilising the Indo-Pacific region.

The Defence Minister would be in Hanoi on May 18-19 for the bilateral meeting with his counterpart General Phan Van Giang and subsequently travel to South Korea for two days (May 19-21) where he would inaugurate an Indian war memorial besides having discussions on the ways to boost military engagements between New Delhi and Seoul, official sources said here.

Rajnath and Gen Giang, according to sources, are likely to deliberate on the prevailing situation in the South China Sea, a region that has witnessed increasing Chinese military muscle-flexing, amid growing concerns on China's sweeping claims of sovereignty over all of the South China Sea, a big source of hydrocarbons. Other nations in the region including Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei have made counter-claims.

Rajnath’s visit to Vietnam marks 10 years of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations that was upgraded to Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Vietnam President’s May 5-7 visit to India.

Among other things, New Delhi and Hanoi have agreed to increase the number of joint exercises and policy dialogues besides enhancing port calls by naval vessels and air force aircraft, information sharing and carrying out more hydrographic surveys.

During his visit to South Korea, Singh will hold bilateral talks with National Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back.

"The ministers will review defence cooperation between the two countries and explore new initiatives to further strengthen bilateral engagements. They will also exchange views on regional and global issues of shared interest," the defence ministry said in a statement.

Singh will also meet Minister of Defence Acquisition Programme Administration Lee, Yong-cheol and chair the India-Korea business round-table.

India made key contribution in the Korean War (1950-53) such as deploying 60 Parachute Field Ambulance of the Indian Army. Serving for more than three years, the unit treated over two lakh patients and performed about 2,500 surgeries.

To honour the fallen soldiers, a joint inauguration of the Indian War Memorial with Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon Oh-eul has been planned on May 21.