New Delhi: India and Vietnam have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening maritime and defence cooperation, with a focus on regional security, technology sharing, defence industrial collaboration and a rules-based security architecture in the Indo-Pacific. The development follows the recent high-level bilateral meeting between the Prime Ministers of India and Vietnam on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. Building on the strategic direction provided by the two leaders, Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh held a meeting with Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of National Defence, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang, in New Delhi on September 13, 2026.
The discussions focused on further strengthening the longstanding bonds of friendship between the two countries and advancing the bilateral Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Focus on Defence Cooperation and Technology Sharing
During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to accelerate joint initiatives, enhance technology sharing and deepen defence industrial collaboration. India and Vietnam reiterated the importance of expanding their maritime and defence partnership to contribute to a peaceful, stable and rules-based regional security environment.The two countries also emphasised the importance of close coordination in multilateral forums to address evolving and complex security challenges in the region.
Greater Engagement Through ASEAN Mechanisms
Particular emphasis was placed on active engagement under the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) framework. India and Vietnam reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening practical defence cooperation through ASEAN-led mechanisms. Both sides recognised the role of platforms such as the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Groups in promoting regional stability, enhancing defence cooperation and contributing to collective security architectures across the Indo-Pacific.
Next Defence Policy Dialogue to Be Hosted by India
As part of efforts to maintain the momentum in bilateral defence engagement, India and Vietnam agreed on the scheduled conduct of the next Defence Policy Dialogue, which will be hosted by India on the sidelines of Aero India 2027. The upcoming dialogue is expected to provide another important platform for both countries to review ongoing defence cooperation and explore avenues for further collaboration. The meeting underscores the growing momentum in India-Vietnam defence relations and reflects the two countries’ shared strategic vision for a secure, stable and rules-based Indo-Pacific. It also builds directly on the strategic direction set by the Prime Ministers of India and Vietnam during their recent interaction at the BRICS Summit.
