Vietnam and India hold bilateral military exercise VINBAX 2024
VOV.VN - The fifth annual Vietnam-India Bilateral Army Exercise (VINBAX 2024) began in Ambala city of India’s Haryana state on November 4.
VINBAX 2024 aims to enhance cooperation in peacekeeping operations, promote understanding, and develop the capabilities of both countries’ armed forces in contributing to international peace and security. The exercise reflects both countries’ commitment to working together to address global challenges and foster regional stability.
The inauguration of the exercise was attended by Vietnamese Ambassador to India Nguyen Thanh Hai and Lieutenant General Rajesh Pushka, Commander of the Kharga Corps of the Indian Army.
In addition to the engineering and medical forces that have participated in previous years, VINBAX 2024 marks a new milestone in the bilateral exercise with the first participation of air force personnel from both Vietnam and India.
In opening remarks, Lt. Gen. Pushka emphasized that defense cooperation is a key component of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and India that is increasingly reinforced by a shared vision for peace, prosperity, and the well-being of the people.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on defense cooperation in 2009 and the Joint Vision on defense cooperation in 2015 have established a broad institutional framework aimed at achieving these goals, he said.
Furthermore, he said the Joint Vision Statement on the defense partnership towards 2030 and the Memorandum of Understanding on logistical support have highlighted the growing importance of both countries in the Indo-Pacific region and ASEAN, and VINBAX serves as a foundation for realizing these objectives.
During the more than two weeks of the joint exercise, 47 military personnel from Vietnam and India will practice establishing and deploying engineering and medical teams to carry out technical tasks within United Nations peacekeeping operations.
According to Colonel Luu Dinh Hien, Commander of the Training Center under the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, this year’s exercise comprises three new components: mine and unexploded ordnance clearance, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief, as well as the use of Air Force equipment, including drones, in logistical support, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief activities within UN peacekeeping operations.
The exercise will last through to November 23.
