India and Vietnam Coast Guards meet in Chennai to boost maritime security

The Indian and Vietnam Coast Guards held their seventh high-level meeting in Chennai on August 25, 2026, to strengthen bilateral maritime cooperation. Co-chaired by Indian Coast Guard Director General Paramesh Sivamani and Vietnam Coast Guard Vice Commandant Major General Luong Dinh Hung, the discussions focused on maritime law enforcement, search and rescue (SAR) operations, marine pollution response, and capacity building.

The meeting serves to enhance interoperability and mutual trust under the 2015 Memorandum of Understanding on Coast Guard Cooperation. This high-level engagement precedes the second edition of the SAHYOG-HOPTAC joint exercise, scheduled to take place off the coast of Chennai starting August 27, 2026. The Vietnam Coast Guard has deployed the vessel CSB 8002 to participate in the exercise alongside Indian Coast Guard platforms to exchange best practices and improve operational coordination.