Rajnath Singh pays tribute to Ho Chi Minh during Vietnam visit, highlights growing strategic ties

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday paid homage to Vietnamrsquos founding leader Ho Chi Minh at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi on the occasion of his 136th birth anniversarySingh is currently on a twoday official visit to Vietnam as India and Vietnam mark a decade of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership The visit is aimed at strengthening defence cooperation and expanding strategic engagement between the two countriesRajnath Singh pays tribute at Ho Chi Minh MausoleumSharing details of the visit on X Singh said he paid respects to Ho Chi Minh and praised his contribution to Vietnamrsquos national liberation movement and global solidarityldquoHis vision leadership and enduring commitment to national liberation and global solidarity continue to inspire generations IndiaVietnam friendship remains rooted in shared values and mutual respectrdquo Singh said in his postThe visit comes shortly after Vietnamese President To Lam visited India earlier this month during which bilateral ties were upgraded to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic PartnershipDefence cooperation high on agendaSingh arrived in Hanoi on Monday and is expected to hold discussions focused on defence collaboration maritime security and regional stability in the IndoPacific regionAhead of the visit the Defence Minister said his engagements in Vietnam and South Korea would focus on strengthening military cooperation and defence industrial partnershipsldquoI will focus on deepening strategic military cooperation strengthening defence industrial partnerships and boosting maritime collaboration promoting peace and stability in the IndoPacific regionrdquo Singh wrote on X before departing for the tourIndia and Vietnam have steadily expanded defence cooperation in recent years through joint exercises training programmes naval exchanges and defence equipment partnershipsOperation Sindoor reflects Indiarsquos strategic confidenceDuring his interaction with the Indian community in Hanoi on Monday Singh said Operation Sindoor reflected Indiarsquos emergence as a confident and capable nation prepared to protect its interestsHe said India remains committed to its no first use nuclear doctrine but would respond firmly to any threat or provocationldquoWhile India remains committed to the no first use policy it will not succumb to nuclear blackmail and stands ready to respond firmly to any enemy misadventurerdquo Singh saidThe Defence Minister also spoke about Indiarsquos growing technological and industrial capabilities particularly in the semiconductor sector He described the sectorrsquos expansion as part of the countryrsquos broader economic and strategic transformationSouth Korea visit to focus on defence and business tiesAfter concluding his Vietnam visit Singh will travel to South Korea from May 19 to 21 for a series of bilateral meetingsAccording to the Ministry of Defence Singh will hold talks with South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyuback to review ongoing defence cooperation and explore new areas of engagementThe two sides are also expected to discuss regional and global developments of mutual interestDuring the visit Singh will additionally meet Lee Yongcheol and chair the IndiaKorea business roundtable aimed at strengthening industrial and economic partnerships between the two countriesThe multination visit comes as India seeks to deepen strategic ties with key IndoPacific partners amid evolving geopolitical and security challenges in the regionWith inputs from IANS