Vietnam, India launch 2025 joint UN peacekeeping exercise

Senior Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, and Rajesh Kumar Singh, Defense Secretary of India, delivered their opening remarks at the event, which is co-organized by the defense ministries of both countries.

VINBAX 2025 aims to enhance technical expertise, coordination, and field operations among engineering, medical, and rescue forces preparing for UN peacekeeping deployments.

The exercise also strengthens bilateral defense cooperation within the framework of the Vietnam-India comprehensive strategic partnership.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Senior Lieutenant General Tan described VINBAX as a hallmark of substantive and effective defense collaboration, noting that India remains the only international partner conducting an annual field-level UN peacekeeping exercise with Vietnam.

Defense Secretary Singh said that VINBAX has become a key pillar of bilateral defense ties, underscoring both nations’ shared commitment to regional peace, stability, and cooperation.

He expressed India’s interest in expanding VINBAX cooperation into new areas such as force protection and integrated peacekeeping drills to help both militaries adapt to complex modern operational environments.

According to Major General Pham Manh Thang, director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations and head of the exercise steering committee, VINBAX 2025 features nearly 300 participants and will run through the end of November.

The exercise includes three parts, namely theoretical training on UN peacekeeping operations, practical skills training for engineers and medics, and integrated field exercises.