Armies of India, Vietnam begin 11-day military exercise in Hanoi
military exercise in Vietnam on Monday, in sync with the expanding strategic engagement between the two countries against the backdrop of common concerns over China's increasingly aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea. The aim of the exercise is to foster a collaborative partnership and promote interoperability between the two forces, the Indian Army said.
«The joint exercise will help in promoting understanding and interoperability between the two contingents and further strengthen the defence cooperation between the friendly armies,» it said.
In reflection of the growing strategic ties, India gifted its in-service missile corvette, INS Kirpan, to Vietnam in July.
Vietnam, an important country of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), has territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea region.
India has oil-exploration projects in the Vietnamese waters in the South China Sea.
The military exercise — "VINBAX-23" — between the two armies will take place from December 11 to 21 in Hanoi.
The Indian contingent comprises 45 personnel — 39 from an engineer regiment of the Bengal Engineer Group and six from the Army Medical Corps.
The Vietnam People's Army has deployed 45 personnel for the drill.
VINBAX was instituted in 2018 and the first edition of the joint military exercise was conducted at Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh.
It is an annual training event conducted alternately in India and Vietnam.
The last edition was conducted at the Chandimandir military station in August 2022.
