Underlining the close defence ties between the two countries, Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar on Saturday handed over an Indian navy ship Kirpan to Vietnam during his visit there. This is the maiden occasion of gifting a fully operational corvette by India to any friendly foreign country, Navy officials said here.
The transfer of an indigenously built in-service missile corvette, INS Kirpan, from the Indian Navy to the Vietnam People’s Navy reflects India’s commitment to assist its like-minded partners in enhancing their capacity and capability, and is in consonance with India’s policies of ‘Act East’ and ‘Security and Growth for all in the Region (SAGAR),’ they said. INS Kirpan, an indigenously built Khukri-class Missile Corvette was handed over Vietnam in accordance with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s announcement of gifting an in-service missile corvette to Vietnam on June 19. Towards executing the same, INS Kirpan departed on her final journey under Indian Tricolour from India to Vietnam on June 28 and reached Cam Ranh, Vietnam on July 8.
Giving details of the Navy chief’s visit, officials said he would be visiting Vietnam People’s Navy’s Headquarters at Hai Phong for bilateral interaction with Vice Admiral Tran Thanh Nghiem, CINC, Vietnam People’s Navy and would be calling on the Minister of National Defence, Vietnam. His visit signifies a high level of bilateral defence engagements between the navies of the two countries as well as India’s recognition of ‘ASEAN Centrality’ to region.