Indian Navy ready to deepen cooperation with Vietnam People’s Navy: rear admiral

The message was reiterated at a reception held on Tuesday evening aboard the stealth guided-missile frigate INS Udaygiri, hosted by the Indian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City together with the visiting Indian naval flotilla led by Rear Admiral Ananda, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy.

The flotilla, which also includes stealth frigate INS Taragiri, arrived at Nha Rong–Khanh Hoi Port on Monday for a three-day goodwill visit.

Those attending the reception included Rear Admiral Nguyen Van Quan, Commander of Vietnam’s Naval Region 2; Rear Admiral Alok Ananda; Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Tshering Wangchuk Sherpa; and deputy director of the city’s Department of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Que, along with officials and naval officers from both countries.

In his remarks, Rear Admiral Ananda said the visit went beyond protocol, reflecting a deeper strategic relationship grounded in shared history, culture, and maritime security interests. 

He described exchanges with Vietnamese officers and shipboard visits as valuable opportunities for the Indian delegation.

He highlighted the visit as part of India’s ‘Act East Policy’ and the ASEAN–India Maritime Cooperation Year 2026, and reaffirmed the Indian Navy’s readiness to expand comprehensive cooperation with the Vietnam People’s Navy.

Rear Admiral Quan, Commander of Vietnam’s Naval Region 2, highlighted more than five decades of Vietnam–India relations, built on long-standing cultural, historical, and maritime ties.

He noted that the elevation of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016, and its further strengthening in May 2026, had laid a solid foundation for deeper cooperation between the two countries’ armed forces, particularly in safeguarding maritime security and stability in the region.

“In recent years, the two navies have developed and effectively carried out cooperation in a range of areas of mutual interest, including training, professional exchanges, hydrography, submarine rescue, and technical assistance,” Rear Admiral Quan said.

He added that the naval leadership on both sides had also supported each other through high-level delegations and the participation of naval ships in multilateral international events hosted by each navy.

Since 2016, the Indian Navy has deployed ships to Vietnam 17 times for port visits and joint activities.

The visit marks the second time Indian naval vessels have visited Vietnam this year.

Earlier in February, Ship 17 of Vietnam’s Naval Region 2 visited the Indian city of Visakhapatnam to take part in the MILAN 2026 multinational naval exercise and parade.

Rear Admiral Quan expressed confidence that the current visit would further enhance understanding and trust between the two navies and their peoples, contributing to the long-standing friendship between Vietnam and India.

Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Tshering Wangchuk Sherpa noted that the deployment of the Indian flotilla came shortly after candidates from both India and Vietnam were elected as judges to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for the 2026–35 term.

He said the development opened up new opportunities for closer coordination between the two countries in upholding multilateralism and international maritime law.