India’s prime minister is to visit Vietnam to strengthen growing security ties in response to both countries’ fears about China’s regional territorial ambitions.
Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet the top four national leaders in Hanoi on Saturday as New Delhi seeks to counter what it sees as Beijing’s efforts to encircle India with military bases in South Asia.
“There is definitely a hard edge to the relationship with Vietnam,” said Ajai Shukla, a retired Indian army colonel and defence analyst. “In New Delhi, Vietnam is seen as one of the countries that has the potential, the history, the motive and foreign policy outlook to confront China, and resist China and its expansionist motives.”