India, Vietnam discuss deepening defence ties as Rajnath Singh meets Phan Van Giang in Hanoi
India's Defence Minister held bilateral talks with Vietnam's Minister of National Defence in Hanoi on May 19, 2026, reviewing progress in bilateral defence c...
What Happened
- India's Defence Minister held bilateral talks with Vietnam's Minister of National Defence in Hanoi on May 19, 2026, reviewing progress in bilateral defence cooperation and discussing maritime security, defence industry cooperation, military training, and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.
- The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile deal — valued at approximately $629 million (roughly ₹5,800 crore) — was a centrepiece of the visit, with both sides exchanging notes on Vietnam's intent to purchase the system; negotiations were described as being at an advanced stage.
- Both ministers virtually inaugurated a Language Lab at Vietnam's Air Force Officers' College, and witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in Artificial Intelligence.
- The visit reinforced India's Act East Policy and its approach to the Indo-Pacific, with maritime security in the South China Sea as a key strategic context.
- The BrahMos package under discussion includes missile systems, specialised training for Vietnamese personnel, and long-term logistical support.
Static Topic Bridges
India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
India and Vietnam elevated their bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in September 2016, making Vietnam one of India's closest strategic partners in the ASEAN region. The CSP covers defence, security, trade, energy, science and technology, and cultural cooperation. Vietnam is a key node in India's Act East Policy, particularly given its geographic position abutting the South China Sea.
- India-Vietnam CSP established: September 2016 (during PM Modi's visit to Hanoi)
- Bilateral trade target: $15 billion; India-Vietnam trade approximately $14–15 billion (2023-24)
- Vietnam is a member of ASEAN; India-ASEAN relations are governed by the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA, in goods since 2010; services 2015)
- India's Line of Credit to Vietnam: multiple tranches for defence procurement, including patrol vessels
- Defence cooperation milestones: joint naval exercises, Vietnam using Indian shipbuilding capacity, training exchanges
Connection to this news: The Hanoi talks build on the 2016 CSP foundation — the BrahMos deal and AI MoU represent the most substantial defence-industrial deliverable under the partnership since its elevation.
BrahMos Missile System and India's Defence Exports
BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India (DRDO/BrahMos Aerospace) and Russia (NPO Mashinostroyeniya) under a joint venture established in 1998. It is named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers. The missile cruises at approximately Mach 2.8–3, has a range of up to 450–500 km (extended range variant), and can be launched from land, sea, sub-surface, and air platforms. The Philippines was the first country to sign an export agreement for BrahMos in January 2022 (valued at $375 million), establishing the export precedent that has streamlined the process for subsequent buyers.
- BrahMos joint venture: India (DRDO + BrahMos Aerospace, 50.5% stake) and Russia (NPO Mashinostroyeniya, 49.5% stake), established 1998
- Speed: ~Mach 2.8–3 (supersonic); range: 290 km (standard), up to ~450–500 km (extended)
- Philippines deal: $375 million, signed January 2022 — India's first-ever BrahMos export; deliveries completed in 2024-25
- Vietnam deal value: ~$629 million; includes missiles, training, and logistical support
- Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy (DPEPP) 2020: targets $5 billion in defence exports by 2025; BrahMos is the flagship export product
- India's defence export target: ₹50,000 crore (~$6 billion) by 2029
Connection to this news: The Vietnam BrahMos deal, if concluded, would be India's second-largest defence export ever and would cement the Philippines precedent as the template for ASEAN defence exports.
Defence Procurement: DAC and Export Frameworks
India's defence acquisition ecosystem operates under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 (replacing DPP 2016). The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by the Defence Minister, is the apex body for approving capital acquisitions. For exports, the Ministry of Defence issues No Objection Certificates (NOC), the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) issues export licences under the SCOMET (Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment, and Technologies) list, and export of missile systems requires case-by-case Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approval.
- DAC (Defence Acquisition Council): apex procurement body; Defence Minister chairs it
- DAP 2020 categories: Buy (Indian-IDDM), Buy (Indian), Buy and Make (Indian), Buy and Make, Buy (Global-Make in India), Buy (Global)
- SCOMET list: India's export control regime for dual-use and military technologies; missile systems are SCOMET Category 7B items
- BrahMos export licensing: requires CCS approval given its joint development with Russia and MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime) implications
- India joined MTCR in June 2016, enabling potential export of BrahMos at original 290 km range cap; subsequent range extensions required case-by-case clearances
Connection to this news: The India-Vietnam BrahMos negotiations illustrate the multi-layered governmental approval process — DAC, CCS, SCOMET, and diplomatic coordination — required for strategic weapons exports.
South China Sea and India's Indo-Pacific Policy
The South China Sea is a contested maritime space where China claims approximately 90% of waters under its "nine-dash line," a claim rejected by an international tribunal (PCA Award, 2016). Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan all have overlapping claims. India does not have territorial claims in the South China Sea but has a strategic interest in freedom of navigation, given that approximately $200 billion of India's annual trade transits these waters. India's position advocates for UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea)-compliant resolution.
- UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea): adopted 1982; India ratified 1995; governs maritime zones (territorial sea 12 nm, EEZ 200 nm, continental shelf)
- PCA Award (2016): Philippines v. China; ruled China's nine-dash line inconsistent with UNCLOS — China rejected the ruling
- India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI): Launched 2019 by PM Modi; 7 pillars including maritime security, maritime ecology, maritime resources, capacity building, disaster risk reduction, science/technology, and trade/connectivity
- India-Vietnam Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA): cooperation for monitoring South China Sea activities through shared data
Connection to this news: The BrahMos deal enhances Vietnam's anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities in the South China Sea, aligning with India's interest in a multipolar Indo-Pacific where no single power dominates maritime corridors critical to Indian trade.
Key Facts & Data
- India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: established September 2016
- BrahMos joint venture: India-Russia (1998); Mach ~2.8–3; range up to 450–500 km (extended variant)
- Vietnam BrahMos deal value: ~$629 million (₹5,800 crore approx.)
- Philippines BrahMos deal: $375 million, signed January 2022 — India's first BrahMos export
- MoU signed during Hanoi visit: Artificial Intelligence cooperation in defence
- Language Lab inaugurated: at Vietnam's Air Force Officers' College
- India's defence export target: ₹50,000 crore by 2029; DPEPP 2020 target $5 billion by 2025
- SCOMET: India's export control list; missile systems under Category 7B
- India joined MTCR: June 2016
- South China Sea trade transiting: ~$200 billion of India's annual trade
- UNCLOS: adopted 1982; India ratified 1995; India's EEZ = 200 nautical miles
- PCA Award (Philippines v. China): 2016; nine-dash line ruled inconsistent with UNCLOS