India is preparing to transfer a missile corvette, a type of small warship, to Vietnam, a historical move taking place at Cam Ranh Bay. This Vietnamese port, with its legendary status in the South China Sea, holds a significant position in defence due to its advantageous geographical location in the Pacific Ocean.

The missile corvette, known as the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kirpan, has completed a commendable service to the Indian Navy for 32 years. This warship, weighing a substantial 1350 tonnes, is proudly built within the country itself. Soon, it will be passed on to the Vietnam People's Navy (VPN) at the military port of Cam Ranh Bay, a key strategic point in the South China Sea. Many perceive this location as an important defence post for the Pacific Ocean.

The Indian Defence Ministry, in a public statement on Saturday, revealed that Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar will oversee the decommissioning ceremony. Subsequently, INS Kirpan will officially be handed over to Vietnam. This momentous occasion will reflect India's generous spirit, nationalism, and commitment to international cooperation.

Cam Ranh Bay, often referred to as an "ideal natural fortress", has a long history of control by both American and Soviet fleets due to its geographical and geopolitical significance. Its location along international shipping routes provides access to various crucial sea routes. These include the Straits of Malacca, the South China and Java Sea, and the vast Pacific and Indian Ocean. The port's location emphasizes its significance in global marine transportation and defence.

In addition to overseeing the handover, Admiral Kumar will visit the Vietnam People's Navy headquarters at Hai Phong. Here, he will engage in bilateral discussions with Vice Admiral Tran Thanh Nghiem, the Commander-in-Chief of the Vietnam People's Navy. Following these discussions, Admiral Kumar will also meet with Vietnamese Defence Minister General Phan Van Gang.

INS Kirpan's journey to Vietnam was agreed upon on June 19. General Giang visited New Delhi, and during subsequent bilateral discussions with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, India announced the gifting of this indigenously built Khukri-class Missile Corvette to Vietnam. This marks the first occasion of India gifting a fully operational corvette to a Friendly Foreign Country, a proud and historic moment for the nation.

New Delhi asserts that this gift to Hanoi is a reaffirmation of the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Both countries are jointly promoting peace, stability, maritime safety and security, as well as freedom of navigation and overflight in the Indo-Pacific Region. This gift underscores the value India places on such partnerships, and their commitment to ensuring peace and stability in the region.

"The visit of the CNS [Chief of the Naval Staff] signifies a high level of bilateral defence engagements between the Indian Navy and VPN. It also demonstrates India's recognition of 'ASEAN Centrality' to the region," the Indian defence ministry stated. This gesture illustrates the deep mutual respect between the two navies, and further cements their collaboration and partnership in defence.

Vietnam remains a significant aspect of India's Act East Policy. It is a key partner in its Indo-Pacific Vision, which is emphasized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative. The gifting of INS Kirpan can thus be seen as a reinforcement of these strategic partnerships, and of India's commitment to promoting security and growth throughout the region.

INS Kirpan is a versatile and powerful vessel, capable of reaching speeds exceeding 25 knots. It's equipped with a medium-range gun, 30 mm close-range guns, and chaff launchers, along with surface-to-surface missiles. The ship set off on her final journey under the Indian Tricolour from Visakhapatnam to Vietnam on June 28, arriving at Cam Ranh on July 8.

The active-duty missile corvette will significantly enhance the capabilities of the Southeast Asian country's Navy, which is consistently working to tackle China's strategic expansion in the region. It will enable the Vietnam People's Navy to undertake a variety of roles, including coastal and off-shore patrol, coastal security, surface warfare, anti-piracy, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.

In the previous year, India gifted 12 High-Speed Guard Boats to the Vietnam People's Navy. This took place during Defence Minister Singh’s visit to Hanoi. The advanced boats were given to Vietnam in a ceremony held at the Hong Ha Shipyard in Hai Phong. Singh also extended an invitation to Vietnam to join India’s defence industrial transformation through increased cooperation. This move aligns with PM Modi’s vision of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’.

India and Vietnam share a rich and enduring history of civilisational and cultural connections, dating back over 2,000 years. This deep bond extends to the defence sector as well. Both nations have signed a 'Joint Vision Statement on Defence Partnership towards 2030' and inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Mutual Logistics Support, significantly expanding the scope and scale of existing bilateral defence cooperation.

Vietnam, signaling its intent to diversify its international relations and decrease its dependence on China, has been deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with New Delhi since 2016. This is part of an effort to maintain peace, prosperity, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. Both nations have a detailed plan to enhance linkages on strategic, security and defence matters. This plan reflects their shared concerns about actions and incidents in the South China Sea that may potentially undermine trust in the region.