Defence minister Rajnath Singh leaves for official visit to Vietnam and South Korea
NEW DELHI, May 18, 2026 — Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has embarked on an official visit to Vietnam and the Republic of Korea to expand bilateral engagement, enhance strategic military cooperation, and strengthen defence industrial partnerships.
The visit aims to boost maritime collaboration and promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Prior to his departure, the defence minister expressed optimism about expanding the scope of bilateral engagements with both Asian nations.
The visit to Vietnam, scheduled for May 18 and 19, marks the tenth anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations.
This partnership was recently upgraded to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the state visit of the Vietnamese President to India earlier this month. Rajnath Singh will hold bilateral talks with the Minister of National Defence of Vietnam, General Phan Van Giang.
The discussions will build upon the Joint Vision Statement of India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030, which was signed in 2022 to guide bilateral defence cooperation based on shared interests in regional peace.
The visit also coincides with the 136th birth anniversary of the former President of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, on May 19. As a mark of respect, the defence minister will lay a wreath and pay tribute at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
Following his scheduled engagements in Vietnam, Rajnath Singh will travel to South Korea for a visit from May 19 to 21. He will hold bilateral talks with the Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Korea, Ahn Gyu-back, to review defence cooperation, explore new initiatives, and exchange views on regional and global issues.
The defence minister is also slated to meet the Minister of Defence Acquisition Program Administration, Lee Yong-cheol, and chair the India-Korea business roundtable to foster industrial ties.The visit highlights India’s historic contribution to the Korean War, where the 60 Parachute Field Ambulance of the Indian Army treated over two lakh patients and performed around 2,500 surgeries over three years.
India also chaired the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission, leading a 5,230-strong contingent from the Indian Army to ensure the peaceful repatriation of nearly 2,000 prisoners of war. To honour these fallen soldiers, Rajnath Singh and the Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, Kwon Oh-eul, will jointly inaugurate the Indian War Memorial on May 21.
The alignment of India’s Act East Policy with South Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy continues to drive shared values and cooperation in the region.