Rajnath Singh in Vietnam speaks volumes before SLD2022

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with Vietnamese Defence Minister General Phan Văn Giang on June 08, 2022 | Photo: Indian Ministry of Defence

The IISS Shangri-La Dialogue defence and security conference (SLD2022) began in Singapore on Friday, with a keynote address by Japanese Prime Minster Kishida Fumio reiterating existing positions and promising an increased emphasis on spending on defence and related partnerships with the United States.

Friday also saw bilateral meetings between U.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin and State Councillor and Defence Minister of the People’s Republic of China Wei Fenghe, after which the PRC’s hardline position promising war in the event Taiwan declared independence was underlined.

Saturday and Sunday will see addresses by the two, along with participation by Japanese defence minister Kishi Nobou, and Australian defence minister and deputy prime minister Richard Marles.

India has sent comparatively lower level representation with the Eastern Navy Commander Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta flying the flag to discuss maritime security here with the commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Admiral John Aquilino, among others, at the Shangri-La Dialogue.

But the event comes after an extensive three-day visit by India’s defence minister Rajnath Singh to Vietnam, during which he held talks with Vietnamese defence minister General Phan Văn Giang after which the two concluded a ‘Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030’, a Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Logistics Support and a USD 500 million defence line of credit for Vietnam. Singh later held talks with Vietnam’s President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, as well.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh handing over 12 High Speed Guard Boats to Vietnam at Hong Ha Shipyard in Hai Phong on June 09, 2022 | Photo: Indian Ministry of Defence

Singh also handed over 12 High Speed Guard Boats to Vietnam constructed under India’s USD 100 million defence line of credit to Vietnam. The first five boats were built by the Larsen & Toubro (L&T) shipyard in India and seven at Hong Ha shipyard at Hai Phong.

Additionally, India’s defence minister presented a gift from India of USD 1 million to the Air Force Officers Training School at Nha Trang for the establishment of a language and IT laboratory. An Army Software Park is also being set up at Telecommunications University in Nha Trang with a USD 5 million grant from India, announced during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Vietnam in 2016.

Meanwhile, General Phan Văn Giang is also at SLD2022 where he met the U.S. secretary of defence on Friday and will discuss military modernisation on Saturday.