Rajnath Singh congratulates Vietnam’s new Deputy Prime Minister Phan Van Giang, reaffirming commitment to strengthen defence cooperation and strategic partnership between both nations…reports Asian Lite News
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday congratulated Phan Van Giang on his appointment as Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, reaffirming India’s commitment to strengthening long-standing defence ties between the two countries.
General Phan Van Giang assumed his new role on April 8, following approval by National Assembly of Vietnam during its first session for the 2026–2031 term. He will serve concurrently as Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister in the new government led by Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, and is among six deputy prime ministers appointed for the term.
Taking to X, Singh extended his “warm congratulations” to Giang and expressed optimism about the future of bilateral defence engagement. He highlighted India’s intent to expand cooperation in key areas such as security, military exchanges, and defence industry collaboration under Giang’s leadership.
Singh also voiced confidence that the India-Vietnam partnership would continue to grow steadily, reflecting the strong foundation built over decades of diplomatic and strategic engagement between the two nations.
Earlier in the week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated To Lam on his election as Vietnam’s President for the 2026–2031 tenure. Modi emphasised India’s readiness to work closely with Vietnam to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and advance shared regional and global interests.
In his message, Modi described the relationship as a “time-tested friendship” and expressed confidence that bilateral ties would continue to strengthen under To Lam’s leadership. He also reiterated India’s commitment to promoting peace, prosperity, and stability in the region through closer cooperation with Vietnam.
The announcement followed the confirmation of To Lam as President by Vietnam’s National Assembly on April 7, after his nomination by the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee.
India and Vietnam share close and warm bilateral relations, which were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Modi’s visit to Vietnam in 2016. Since then, both countries have expanded cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including defence, trade, energy, and capacity building.
The partnership is guided by the “Joint Vision for Peace, Prosperity and People,” adopted during a virtual summit between Modi and former Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in December 2020. This framework continues to shape bilateral engagement and strategic alignment.
In 2022, the two nations marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, underscoring the depth and resilience of their ties. Both sides have since remained actively engaged in further strengthening multi-dimensional cooperation, with defence collaboration emerging as a key pillar.
The latest exchange of greetings and assurances signals continued momentum in India-Vietnam relations, particularly in the defence sector, as both countries look to enhance strategic coordination and regional stability.
