What is the relationship between India and Vietnam?

The relationship between Vietnam and India has always been tepid. In recent years, there have been many aspects of cooperation, including many military cooperation. India has provided Vietnam with a lot of military equipment to help train Vietnamese pilots, and Vietnam has also given India a lot of support in the South China Sea to help India fight against China.

Since 2007, India and Vietnam have signed extensive memorandums of understanding on training, exchanges and visits, and national defense cooperation has always been the core issue of bilateral relations. Last September, the two sides turned from "strategy" to "comprehensive strategic" partnership, making India one of Vietnam's strategic allies. Since 20 1 1, Vietnam has doubled the number of its global strategic partners to 15.

India agreed to train Su -30 fighter pilots for Vietnam and help the Vietnamese navy train how to use imported Kilo-class submarines. Vietnam purchased six Russian Kilo-class submarines in 2009. The last one was delivered in 20 16. The two countries also reached an agreement on the peaceful exploration of space, including helping Viet Nam to launch satellites to better monitor the South China Sea of China.

We should attach importance to the defense cooperation between India and Vietnam. Vietnam believes that India's background in the Non-Aligned Movement and its growing military strength enable Vietnam to find a new and valuable ally outside China.