ABSTRACT
India and Vietnam have strategic defence ties, with both countries involved in military exercises between all three wings of the defence forces. India and Indonesia signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement in 2001 and have had regular defence exchanges including exchange of high-level visits, ship visits, officers studying in staff colleges in either country and joint coordinated patrols in the mouth of the Malacca Straits. Defence cooperation between India and Thailand comprises regular joint exercises, joint maritime patrols near the international maritime boundary to counter terrorism, anti-piracy and smuggling exercises. India's Look East thrust involving the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the 'rimland' states farther afield, like Japan and South Korea, has been a part and parcel of its maritime strategy and naval diplomacy. India's Act East policy found expression in its heightened security cooperation with Japan, Australia, and the United States.
