Coast Guard forces of Vietnam and India hold joint exercise

The exercise is part of an official visit, exchange, and experience-sharing program between the two Coast Guard forces.

The Vietnamese Coast Guard ship CSB 8005, led by Colonel Nguyen Minh Khanh, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of Coast Guard Region 3 Command, visited and engaged in exchanges with the Indian Coast Guard’s Western Command, in Kochi, Kerala, from December 16 to 20.

The visit contributed to consolidating the traditional friendship, enhanced cooperation, mutual understanding, and trust between the Vietnam Coast Guard and the Indian Coast Guard. It reflected both sides’ commitment to building a secure, safe, stable, and prosperous maritime region.

The trip also provided an opportunity to review the effectiveness of the 2015 Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the two forces and explore new areas of collaboration.

The centerpiece of this mission was a joint exercise aimed at sharing experiences and improving coordination in response to emergencies at sea. The emphasis was placed on deploying personnel and resources for search and rescue operations and handling serious incidents such as fires or oil spills in a timely, safe, and effective manner. The exercise helped personnel from both sides refine on-site coordination, improve communication, and effectively utilize specialized equipment.

The Vietnamese officers contributed detailed proposals for search and rescue coordination and maritime incident response, including simulated scenarios representing different scales of incidents to enhance the flexibility and realism of joint efforts. Their approach was highly regarded by the Indian Coast Guard’s technical authorities.

As part of the visit, the Vietnamese delegation paid a courtesy call on Brigadier General N. Ravi, Commander of Region 4, Western Command. They also organized beach clean-up activities in Kochi and participated in sports exchanges with Indian Coast Guard officers and sailors.