Chennai: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening maritime security cooperation ahead of the second edition of their joint exercise, SAHYOG-HOPTAC, scheduled to begin off Chennai on Thursday.
The two sides held their 7th High-Level Meeting in Chennai on August 25, with discussions centred on maritime search and rescue, law enforcement at sea, marine pollution response, capacity building and greater operational coordination.
The meeting was co-chaired by ICG Director General Paramesh Sivamani and Major General Luong Dinh Hung, Vice Commandant of the Vietnam Coast Guard.
Held under the framework of the 2015 Memorandum of Understanding on Coast Guard Cooperation, the meeting reviewed ongoing bilateral engagements, including professional exchanges and ship visits. Both sides stressed the importance of regular institutional interactions, training programmes, sharing of operational best practices and increased personnel exchanges to build mutual trust and interoperability.
“The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of India and Vietnam to work together in the spirit of friendship and cooperation towards promoting maritime safety, security and environmental sustainability in the region,” an official statement said.
The high-level meeting comes just ahead of the second India-Vietnam Coast Guard Joint Exercise, SAHYOG-HOPTAC, which will be conducted off Chennai from August 27.
Vietnam has deployed its coast guard ship CSB 8002 for the exercise, while the Indian Coast Guard will participate with its own operational platforms.
The exercise is expected to provide both forces with an opportunity to strengthen coordination during maritime operations, improve interoperability and exchange practical experience in areas such as search and rescue, maritime law enforcement and emergency response.
The latest engagement reflects the broader expansion of defence and maritime ties between India and Vietnam. The two countries have increasingly focused on maritime security cooperation amid growing strategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
India and Vietnam have maintained defence cooperation through military training, professional exchanges and capacity-building programmes. India has also supported Vietnam in developing an Army Software Park at the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang.
Defence cooperation has expanded beyond training and institutional exchanges, with the two countries also pursuing closer defence-industrial engagement. Vietnam has been reported to have reached an agreement with India concerning the acquisition of BrahMos anti-ship missile systems for a shore-based defence capability.
India and Vietnam are also set to jointly chair the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts’ Working Group on Cyber Security for the 2027-2030 cycle, providing another platform for cooperation in emerging security domains.
The SAHYOG-HOPTAC exercise and the latest high-level meeting underline the growing importance both countries attach to maritime safety, regional security, environmental protection and operational cooperation.
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