New Delhi (Sputnik): As the first-ever trilateral maritime exercise with Singapore is expected to be held this year, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba will embark on a three-day bilateral visit to Thailand on Wednesday. The Indian Defence Ministry on Tuesday said that the visit is aimed at finding new avenues of defence co-operation, indicating that New Delhi may offer arms to Thailand despite that fact that it has close military ties with China.
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"The visit is intended to consolidate and enhance the maritime bilateral relations between India and Thailand and also to explore new avenues of defence cooperation," a defence ministry statement released on Tuesday reads.
Thailand also ordered 49 VT-4 tanks from China to replace its US-made M41s that have been in service since the Second World War.
India has made significant inroads in improving its defence cooperation with East Asian countries in the past few years, many of which have strained ties with China.
For example, New Delhi supplied HMS-X hull-mounted sonar and radar tech for Myanmar's Kyan Sittha-class frigates, and also provides night-vision devices, bailey bridges, rocket launchers, mortars, rifles, communication and Inmarsat sets to the armed forces of Myanmar. Similarly, it has also supplied various naval arms to Vietnam as well.
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Admiral Lanba, in addition to holding important bilateral discussions, will also visit the Royal Thai Navy and Royal Thai Armed Forces headquarters in Bangkok and the 3rd Naval Area Command in Phuket.
The Indian Navy cooperates with the Royal Thai Navy on many fronts, which include operational interactions, training exchanges and hydrographic cooperation.
