Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Vietnam's Deputy PM & Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang hold bilateral talks in Hanoi

📌 Summary:

• Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh held bilateral talks with Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang in Hanoi on 19 May 2026, reviewing the growing India-Vietnam defence partnership.

• Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in maritime security, defence industry, military training, capacity building, UN peacekeeping, cyber security and high-level exchanges, through regular dialogues, joint exercises and exchange programmes.

• They reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region.

• India and Vietnam exchanged an MoU in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Technology, between the Military College of Telecommunications Engineering (India) and the Tele Communications University (Vietnam).

• The two Ministers virtually inaugurated a Language Lab set up with Indian assistance at Vietnam's Air Force Officers' College; Rajnath Singh announced the setting up of an AI Lab at the Tele Communications University, Nha Trang.

• Rajnath Singh called on Vietnam's General Secretary and President To Lam and paid homage to Ho Chi Minh on his 136th birth anniversary; ties were described as an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 — International Relations; India's Act East Policy, Indo-Pacific strategy and defence diplomacy with a key ASEAN partner.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Vietnam's Defence Minister is General Phan Van Giang, who is also the country's Deputy Prime Minister.

• The India-Vietnam relationship is a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, now described as an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

• An MoU was signed in Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Technology.

• Vietnam is a member of ASEAN and a key partner in India's Act East Policy.

🔑 Key Term: Act East Policy — India's strategy to strengthen economic, strategic and cultural ties with the Asia-Pacific region, particularly ASEAN, of which Vietnam is a key partner.