India, Vietnam deepen defence ties as Delhi seeks to boost maritime presence in Indo-Pacific

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at Hong Ha Shipyard in Vietnam to hand over 12 high-speed patrol boats. - RAJNATHSING/TWITTER

NEW DELHI (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): India handed over 12 high-speed patrol boats to Vietnam on Thursday (June 9), a day after inking a mutual logistics agreement allowing the use of each others' military bases in a significant expansion of defence and security ties - all with an eye on China.

The two countries also signed a vision statement on defence ties till 2030.