Vietnam - India Oil and Gas Cooperation: From “Strategic Partnership” To “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”

Abstract

Entering a new phase of the "Look East Policy": the "Act East" policy, the relationship between Vietnam and India has grown and developed in almost all fields. Based on a developing traditional relationship, upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership, Vietnam is an essential pillar in India's "Act East" policy in the Indo-Pacific context. With abundant resources, especially oil, and gas, the collaboration and investment between the two nations in this field have been increasingly strengthened and developed despite adverse reactions from China - a key challenge in the relationship between the two countries – especially in oil and gas exploration and production projects in the South China Sea. This article presents the results of cooperation between Vietnam and India in the oil and gas field in the context of China's rise and strong intervention.