रक्षा मंत्री राजनाथ सिंह की वियतनाम और दक्षिण कोरिया यात्रा – रक्षा संबंधों को गहरा करना

Key Insight

Rajnath Singh’s Vietnam‑Korea tour strengthens India’s Act East defence diplomacy in the Indo‑Pacific.

Key Facts

1. 18‑21 May 2026: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Vietnam (18‑19 May) and South Korea (19‑21 May).
2. Signed an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (ECSP) with Vietnam, marking the 10th anniversary of the CSP (first signed in 2016).
3. Met Vietnam’s Defence Minister Gen. Phan Van Giang and South Korea’s Defence Minister Ahn Gyu‑back, and DAPA chief Lee Yong‑cheol.
4. Chaired India‑Korea defence‑industrial business round‑table under the Act East Policy and South Korea’s Indo‑Pacific Strategy.
5. Inaugurated the Indian War Memorial in Seoul, commemorating the 60 Parachute Field Ambulance’s service (treated >2 lakh patients, ~2,500 surgeries) and India’s chairmanship of the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission.
6. Key outcomes expected: joint naval patrols, co‑development of defence equipment, and technology transfer agreements before the visit ends.

Background

The visits reinforce India’s Act East Policy and its maritime outreach in the Indo‑Pacific, showcasing defence diplomacy as a tool to deepen strategic partnerships, enhance indigenous defence production, and counterbalance regional security challenges.

UPSC Syllabus

• GS2 — Bilateral, regional and global groupings involving India
• Essay — International Relations and Geopolitics
• GS1 — World Wars and redrawal of national boundaries
• Prelims_CSAT — Decision Making

Mains Angle

GS2 – Analyse how India’s defence diplomacy with Vietnam and South Korea advances its strategic autonomy and maritime security in the Indo‑Pacific, linking it to the Act East Policy and emerging security architectures.