India-Vietnam Defence Ties Deepen as BrahMos Deal Takes Center Stage

India and Vietnam’s rapidly expanding defence partnership is set to enter a new phase as Vietnamese President Tô Lâm prepares for an official visit to India from May 5 to 7, with a major focus on $700 million (Rs.5,800 crore) deal for the BrahMos missile system.

The visit-President Lâm’s first major overseas trip since assuming office, coincides with a decade of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established between the two countries in 2016, highlighting growing alignment on defence and regional security.

According to officials, the proposed agreement includes shore-based anti-ship missile batteries, training, logistics support, and initial missile deliveries. If finalized, Vietnam would become the third Southeast Asian country to acquire the system after Philippines (2022) and Indonesia (March 2026).

India-Vietnam defence ties have strengthened steadily over the past decade. Foundational agreements such as the 2009 defence MoU and the 2015 Joint Vision Statement laid the groundwork, while the 2022 Joint Vision Statement on Defence Cooperation to 2030 expanded collaboration to include logistics sharing.

During the 15th Defence Policy Dialogue held in Hanoi in November 2025, both sides signed key agreements on submarine search and rescue, as well as a Letter of Intent on defence industry cooperation, covering technology transfer, joint research, and high-tech manufacturing.

Beyond arms deals, cooperation spans military training, naval exercises, cyber security, real-time intelligence sharing, and participation in UN peacekeeping missions. India has also extended defence credit lines and training support to Vietnamese forces.

The partnership aligns with India’s “Act East” policy and Vietnam’s “Bamboo Diplomacy,” both aimed at maintaining strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to hold wide-ranging talks with President Lâm on defence, trade, and regional issues, including the promotion of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

Experts believe the evolving India-Vietnam defence partnership will play a crucial role in ensuring regional stability, securing sea lanes, and reinforcing strategic equilibrium across the Indo-Pacific region.