India and Vietnam discuss defence ties, emphasise maintaining regional stability

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Deputy Defence Minister Nguyen Truong Thang of Vietnam convened on Sunday to bolster regional security and fortify the 'Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' between India and Vietnam. This dialogue followed a summit-level meeting between the respective prime ministers during the BRICS Summit.

According to a Ministry of Defence statement, the discussions revolved around hastening joint projects, technology exchange, and defence industrial cooperation. Both nations reiterated their collective dedication to advancing maritime and defence ties to uphold a secure, stable, and rules-based regional security framework. They stressed the significance of coordinated efforts in multilateral platforms to tackle intricate security issues, with special focus on the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) framework.

Both sides agreed to schedule the upcoming Defence Policy Dialogue in India, coinciding with Aero India 2027. Over recent years, India and Vietnam have substantially bolstered their defence collaboration, encompassing Defence Policy Dialogues, military exchanges, high-level visits, capacity-building programs, UN Peacekeeping engagements, vessel visits, and bilateral drills.

In May, Singh officially ratified the deal for BrahMos missile supply to Vietnam, currently in the final stages. Similarly, a deal with Indonesia was nearing completion. Earlier in the month, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met his Vietnamese counterpart, General Phan Van Giang, in Hanoi, where they assessed the expanding defense partnership and discussed strategies to intensify cooperation in maritime security, defense industry, training, and regional stability.

In 2022, India transferred 12 high-speed guard boats to Vietnam. The following year, India gifted the fully equipped INS Kirpan to Vietnam, marking a significant move amid increasing Chinese influence in the South China Sea, which has resulted in territorial disputes with Vietnam.