a day ago
India, Vietnam Coast Guards to collaborate on tackling maritime crime, search and rescue, marine pollution
The Indian and Vietnamese Coast Guards held their sixth high-level meeting in Hanoi on Wednesday (August 20, 2025) under the framework of the 2015 Memorandum of Understanding on Coast Guard Cooperation.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the talks focused on strengthening collaboration in maritime search and rescue, law enforcement, marine pollution response, and capacity building. Both sides placed particular emphasis on tackling transnational maritime crimes, including smuggling, trafficking, and illegal fishing.
The meeting was co-chaired by the Coast Guard's Additional Director General Anand Prakash Badola and Vietnamese Coast Guard Vice Commandant Major General Vu Trung Kien. The delegations reviewed recent ship visits and professional exchanges, and agreed to pursue joint initiatives aimed at enhancing interoperability. They also highlighted the importance of coordinated search and rescue operations and joint pollution response mechanisms to safeguard maritime safety and protect the marine environment.
Reaffirming their commitment to regular institutional interactions, training programmes, exchange of best practices, and ship visits, both Coast Guards stressed that such engagements foster mutual trust and operational synergy. The dialogue reflected the shared resolve of India and Vietnam to work in close cooperation for ensuring regional maritime security, safety, and environmental sustainability, the Ministry said.
