Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake an official visit to Vietnam from May 18 to 19 and South Korea from May 19 to 21 to strengthen defence cooperation, maritime collaboration and industrial partnerships with the two Asian nations.

Ahead of his departure, Rajnath Singh said the visit aims to deepen strategic military ties and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Defence Minister’s visit to Vietnam comes as the two countries mark 10 years of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which was recently upgraded to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the visit of the Vietnamese President to India earlier this month.

During the visit, Rajnath Singh will hold bilateral talks with Vietnam’s Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang. Discussions are expected to focus on expanding defence cooperation, capacity building and maritime security initiatives.

The visit also coincides with the 136th birth anniversary of former Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh. Rajnath Singh will pay tribute by laying a wreath at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

India and Vietnam had signed a Joint Vision Statement on Defence Partnership towards 2030 during Rajnath Singh’s previous visit in 2022, outlining long-term cooperation in strategic and defence sectors.

In South Korea, Rajnath Singh will hold talks with Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back to review bilateral defence ties and discuss new initiatives to further enhance cooperation. The two sides are also expected to exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The Defence Minister will additionally meet Defence Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) Minister Lee Yong-cheol and chair the India-Korea business roundtable aimed at boosting defence industrial collaboration.

During the visit, India and South Korea will jointly inaugurate the Indian War Memorial on May 21 to honour Indian soldiers who contributed during the Korean War. India had deployed the 60 Parachute Field Ambulance unit and also chaired the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission during the conflict.

The government said the alignment between India’s “Act East Policy” and South Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy has opened a new chapter in bilateral relations, especially in defence and strategic cooperation.