India-Vietnam Relations Deepen as Hanoi Shows Interest in BrahMos Missile Deal Amid Rising China Concerns
India and Vietnam have taken a major step toward strengthening their strategic partnership, with both countries agreeing to elevate bilateral ties to the level of a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” during high-level talks held in New Delhi on May 6.
The discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Vietnamese President To Lam focused on expanding cooperation across multiple sectors, including trade, defence, maritime security, technology, healthcare and education.
A total of 13 agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed between the two countries during the visit, reflecting the growing depth of engagement between New Delhi and Hanoi at a time of rising geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.
One of the most significant developments emerging from the visit was Vietnam’s reported interest in acquiring India’s BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system — a move that could further strengthen defence ties between the two nations and reshape strategic equations in the South China Sea region.
Vietnam is interested in the BrahMos missile system
According to sources familiar with the discussions, the issue of the BrahMos missile system was also raised during the talks between Prime Minister Modi and President To Lam.
While no official statement has publicly confirmed negotiations over a missile deal, sources indicated that Vietnam has expressed serious interest in purchasing the BrahMos system from India.
India, on its part, has increasingly shown willingness to export the missile system to trusted strategic partners as part of its broader defence diplomacy and “Act East Policy.”
The BrahMos missile, jointly developed by India and Russia, is regarded as one of the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missiles and is capable of being launched from land, sea and air platforms.
Defence analysts believe that if Vietnam proceeds with the acquisition, it would significantly enhance its maritime deterrence capabilities in the disputed South China Sea, where tensions with China have steadily intensified over the years.
India is expanding strategic partnerships in Indo-Pacific
India’s growing defence ties with Vietnam are part of a broader strategic effort to strengthen partnerships with countries concerned about China’s expanding military and territorial influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Vietnam is among the five countries involved in territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea.
Over the past few years, India has steadily increased defence and strategic cooperation with several regional nations, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan and Taiwan.
In January 2022, India signed a landmark agreement worth around 375 million dollars with the Philippines for the export of BrahMos missiles. The first batch of the missile system was delivered to the Philippines in April 2024.
Later, in March 2026, India and Indonesia also finalised an agreement for the purchase of the BrahMos missile system in a deal estimated at between 350 and 450 million dollars.
Strategic experts believe these agreements are part of India’s larger effort to deepen security cooperation with Southeast Asian nations and counterbalance China’s influence across the Indo-Pacific maritime region.
Rajnath Singh holds separate defence talks.
Apart from the summit-level meeting between Modi and To Lam, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also held separate talks with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang.
According to India’s Defence Ministry, the discussions reflected the “warmth, mutual trust and deep strategic convergence” that now define India-Vietnam relations.
Both sides reviewed ongoing defence cooperation and expressed satisfaction over the steady progress in military exchanges, training programs and capacity-building initiatives.
Officials said particular emphasis was placed on growing strategic alignment in the Indo-Pacific region.
The talks reportedly focused on:
- Expanding maritime cooperation,
- Increasing defence industrial collaboration,
- Promoting joint research and co-development projects,
- And strengthening co-production initiatives in defence manufacturing.
The two sides also stressed the importance of regular military engagement, including naval port visits, joint exercises and institutional dialogue mechanisms between the armed forces of both countries.
Focus on regional security and maritime stability.y
Rajnath Singh reiterated India’s commitment to working closely with Vietnam under India’s “MAHASAGAR” vision — a policy framework focused on mutual and holistic advancement for security and growth across the region.
The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global security challenges and underlined the importance of maintaining peace, stability and a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific.
Observers say the growing strategic partnership between India and Vietnam reflects changing geopolitical realities in Asia, where countries are increasingly seeking stronger security partnerships amid rising uncertainty in the South China Sea and broader regional power competition.
For India, strengthening ties with Vietnam also serves an important strategic objective under its Act East Policy, which aims to deepen economic, diplomatic and defence engagement with Southeast Asian nations.
As India continues expanding defence exports and strategic cooperation across the Indo-Pacific, Vietnam’s potential acquisition of the BrahMos missile system could become another major milestone in New Delhi’s emergence as a key regional security partner.
