The anti-submarine warfare corvette INS KILTAN of the Indian Navy is in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for a technical halt and provision of disaster relief to help those affected by recent floods.

The INS KILTAN will be docked at the city’s Nha Rong Port from Thursday to Saturday, the Indian Embassy in Hanoi said in a press release on Thursday.

This ship visit forms part of the Indian Navy’s ongoing operational deployment of its ships to Southeast Asia.

The vessel will also provide humanitarian assistance including 15 tonnes of disaster relief for the people of central Vietnam who were affected by heavy floods in October.

These stores will be handed over to Vietnam’s Central Steering Committee for National Disaster Prevention and Control.

This is reflective of the deep people-to-people connection between the two countries.

India and Vietnam have a civilizational relationship that is two millennium old.

Their relations have grown stronger in recent times due to their vibrant economic engagement and growing convergence on political, regional, and security issues.

The bilateral relations were elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, both countries have maintained the momentum in bilateral engagement.

The prime ministers of both countries held online talks on April 13.

A virtual summit was conducted on December 21 between the two prime ministers.

Several landmark agreements and announcements were made during the summit covering a broad spectrum including defense, energy, trade, and cultural spheres.

The two nations’ foreign ministers also partook in a joint commission meeting on August 25.

Their defense ministers engaged in online talks on November 27 to discuss security issues of mutual interest and concern.

These high-profile events signify sustained momentum in both sides’ bilateral relationship and in their defense and security cooperation.

Defense cooperation is a vital component of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

The Indian Navy has extensive interactions with the Vietnam People’s Navy, particularly in the field of training, repairs, maintenance, and logistics support aimed at capacity building.

India-Vietnam relations today reflect their shared belief that their partnership is not only bilateral in nature but has an important bearing on the peace, prosperity, and stability of the Indo-Pacific region, founded on their shared respect for international law and a rules-based regional and international order.

The current ship visit seeks to enhance maritime cooperation between the two navies and will further bolster the strong bonds of friendship between the two countries, while contributing to security and growth for all in the region.

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