Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called on Vietnamese President To Lam in Hanoi on Tuesday, 19 May, reaffirming India's commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation under the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (ECSP) between the two nations. The high-level engagement comes as India and Vietnam mark 10 years of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, recently upgraded to the ECSP during President To Lam's state visit to India earlier this month.

Key Meetings and Outcomes

Singh conveyed warm greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President To Lam, underscoring that defence cooperation remains a central pillar of the bilateral relationship. 'India and Vietnam share a strong bond rooted in mutual trust, shared values and close cooperation in defence, security and regional stability,' Singh said.

The Defence Minister also held a bilateral meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart, General Phan Van Giang, reviewing the growing India-Vietnam defence partnership. Discussions focused on deepening cooperation in maritime security, the defence industry, training, and regional stability — areas of increasing strategic convergence given both nations' stakes in a rules-based Indo-Pacific order.

MoU on AI and Quantum Technology

A notable outcome of the visit was the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum technology — signalling that the partnership is evolving well beyond traditional defence hardware. Singh described it as 'another important step' in the ECSP framework. Both sides also jointly inaugurated a Language Lab at Vietnam's Air Force Officers College, a gesture reinforcing people-to-people and institutional defence ties.

Tribute to Ho Chi Minh

Earlier on Tuesday, Singh paid tributes to Ho Chi Minh, the founding father of Vietnam, at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi, on the occasion of Ho Chi Minh's 136th birth anniversary. 'His vision, leadership and enduring commitment to national liberation and global solidarity continue to inspire generations. India-Vietnam friendship remains rooted in shared values and mutual respect,' Singh said.

Context and What Comes Next

Singh arrived in Hanoi on Monday, 18 May, for a two-day official visit — his first to Vietnam in this tenure. This is the first major defence-level engagement since the bilateral partnership was elevated to the ECSP. Notably, the visit coincides with growing regional attention to maritime security in the South China Sea, where both India and Vietnam have overlapping strategic interests.

Following his Vietnam visit, Singh is scheduled to travel to South Korea from 19 to 21 May for further defence engagements, making this a significant multi-nation outreach for India's defence diplomacy in Asia.