India and Vietnam begin 5th edition of bilateral military exercise VINBAX-2024
| 2024-11-04
The Opening Ceremony of India-Vietnam bilateral military exercise VINBAX-2024 was held in Ambala on November 4, 2024.
VINBAX-2024 signifies India's robust defence cooperation with nations in Southeast Asia
Taking forward the growing defence partnership between the two nations, the 5th Edition of Vietnam Indian Bilateral Army Exercise “VINBAX 2024” has commenced at Ambala. This edition marks a significant increase in the scope with Bi-Service level participation for the first time by personnel of Army and Air Force from both the countries.
Being hosted by India, the exercise is scheduled to be conducted from November 4-23, 2024 at Ambala and Chandimandir. The exercise, which is a sequel to the previously conducted bilateral exercise in Vietnam in 2023, was described by India’s Ministry of Defence as “a major milestone in strengthening the bilateral relations between India and Vietnam”.
The Indian Army contingent comprising 47 personnel is being represented by a Regiment of the Corps of Engineers along with personnel from other arms and services. The Vietnamese contingent of similar strength will be represented by the troops of the Vietnam People's Army.
The aim of VINBAX-2024 is to enhance joint military capability of both sides in employment and deployment of Engineer Company and Medical Teams to undertake engineering tasks as part of United Nation Contingent in Peace Keeping Operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the conduct of VINBAX-2024 as a field training exercise with enhanced scope from previous editions of bilateral exercise will strengthen mutual confidence, interoperability and enable sharing of best practices between the Indian Army and Vietnam People’s Army. The joint exercise will also provide an opportunity to the troops of both the contingents to learn about the social and cultural heritages of each other.
A 48-hour Validation Exercise with Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) demonstration and equipment display is also part of the schedule to assess the standards achieved by both contingents while executing technical military operations under similar scenarios in UN missions.
VINBAX-2024 signifies India's robust defence cooperation with nations in Southeast Asia. Last week, a contingent of Indian Army Special Forces, represented by 25 personnel from The Parachute Regiment, arrived in Cijantung, Jakarta, Indonesia to participate in the ninth edition of the India-Indonesia Joint Special Forces Exercise, Garud Shakti 24. Scheduled from November 1 to November 12, 2024, this high-stakes exercise will bring together the best of both nations’ elite forces, fostering a stronger bond and advancing mutual defense capabilities.
Earlier, the 31st edition of the Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) was held in Visakhapatnam. Scheduled from October 23 to 29, 2024. The aim of the exercise was to strengthen maritime cooperation between the two nations, enhance operational capabilities, and improve coordination in addressing shared maritime security challenges.
Vietnam holds significant importance as a partner in India's Act East policy and its vision for the Indo-Pacific region. Bilateral defence relations form a significant pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Vietnam. Over time, the bilateral defence engagements between India and Vietnam have diversified to include wide-ranging contacts between the services, military-to-military exchanges, high-level visits, capacity building and training programmes, cooperation in UN Peacekeeping, ship visits, and bilateral exercises.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Vietnam from June 8-10, 2022, where he presided over the handing over ceremony of 12 High Speed Guard Boats constructed under the Government of India’s $US 100 million Defence Line of Credit to Vietnam. This was significant in the context of the growing defence industry cooperation with Vietnam.
During the visit, major overarching guiding documents, namely the 'Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030' and a Memorandum of Understanding on 'Mutual Logistics Support', were signed. These documents have significantly enhanced the scope and scale of defence cooperation between both countries.
Being hosted by India, the exercise is scheduled to be conducted from November 4-23, 2024 at Ambala and Chandimandir. The exercise, which is a sequel to the previously conducted bilateral exercise in Vietnam in 2023, was described by India’s Ministry of Defence as “a major milestone in strengthening the bilateral relations between India and Vietnam”.
The Indian Army contingent comprising 47 personnel is being represented by a Regiment of the Corps of Engineers along with personnel from other arms and services. The Vietnamese contingent of similar strength will be represented by the troops of the Vietnam People's Army.
The aim of VINBAX-2024 is to enhance joint military capability of both sides in employment and deployment of Engineer Company and Medical Teams to undertake engineering tasks as part of United Nation Contingent in Peace Keeping Operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the conduct of VINBAX-2024 as a field training exercise with enhanced scope from previous editions of bilateral exercise will strengthen mutual confidence, interoperability and enable sharing of best practices between the Indian Army and Vietnam People’s Army. The joint exercise will also provide an opportunity to the troops of both the contingents to learn about the social and cultural heritages of each other.
A 48-hour Validation Exercise with Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) demonstration and equipment display is also part of the schedule to assess the standards achieved by both contingents while executing technical military operations under similar scenarios in UN missions.
VINBAX-2024 signifies India's robust defence cooperation with nations in Southeast Asia. Last week, a contingent of Indian Army Special Forces, represented by 25 personnel from The Parachute Regiment, arrived in Cijantung, Jakarta, Indonesia to participate in the ninth edition of the India-Indonesia Joint Special Forces Exercise, Garud Shakti 24. Scheduled from November 1 to November 12, 2024, this high-stakes exercise will bring together the best of both nations’ elite forces, fostering a stronger bond and advancing mutual defense capabilities.
Earlier, the 31st edition of the Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) was held in Visakhapatnam. Scheduled from October 23 to 29, 2024. The aim of the exercise was to strengthen maritime cooperation between the two nations, enhance operational capabilities, and improve coordination in addressing shared maritime security challenges.
Vietnam holds significant importance as a partner in India's Act East policy and its vision for the Indo-Pacific region. Bilateral defence relations form a significant pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Vietnam. Over time, the bilateral defence engagements between India and Vietnam have diversified to include wide-ranging contacts between the services, military-to-military exchanges, high-level visits, capacity building and training programmes, cooperation in UN Peacekeeping, ship visits, and bilateral exercises.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Vietnam from June 8-10, 2022, where he presided over the handing over ceremony of 12 High Speed Guard Boats constructed under the Government of India’s $US 100 million Defence Line of Credit to Vietnam. This was significant in the context of the growing defence industry cooperation with Vietnam.
During the visit, major overarching guiding documents, namely the 'Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030' and a Memorandum of Understanding on 'Mutual Logistics Support', were signed. These documents have significantly enhanced the scope and scale of defence cooperation between both countries.
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