Why is it in news?

Indian, Vietnamese armies hold first military exercise 

Details

• For the first time, armies of India and Vietnam today began a six day-long military exercise in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, reflecting growing defence ties between the two countries.
• It is the first military exercise between the two countries.
• The exercise, christened 'VINBAX' will continue for six days.
• Defence ties between India and Vietnam have been on an upswing with the primary focus being cooperation in the maritime domain.
• India and Vietnam had signed a protocol on defence cooperation in 1994. The partnership was thereafter elevated to strategic level in 2007 and a pact on boosting bilateral defence cooperation was signed in 2009.
• The strategic partnership was elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership in September 2016. 

Conclusion

• Indo-Vietnam joint military exercises are a proof of increasing clout of India with ASEAN nations.
• It also signifies that India’s “look east” and “act east” policy is working well.
• Strategic relations with Vietnam will also be crucial to keep China in check. It will also help Vietnam check China’s advances in the South China sea.
• The strategic cooperation would also help safeguard each others’ geopolitical and other interests.
• However, India still needs to do more to increase its influence in the South East Asian region as an aggressive China is rapidly gaining influence in the region.

Source

Economic times