India, Vietnam expand defense ties across land, sea, air domains

Mandeep Singh

India and Vietnam are reinforcing their strategic partnership with a surge of defense activities reflecting deepening cooperation across the land, sea and air domains. The multifaceted engagements underscore the nations’ shared security concerns and mutual commitment to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

At the heart of the relationship, which was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2016, is a shared strategic imperative to counterbalance China’s growing assertiveness, particularly in the contested South China Sea. Hanoi and New Delhi advocate adherence to international norms, notably the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and support freedom of navigation.

“India and Vietnam are among the strongest proponents of a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific, and their growing defense partnership reflects this convergence,” Dr. Rahul Mishra, associate professor at the Centre for Indo-Pacific Studies at the New Delhi-based Jawaharlal Nehru University, told FORUM. “Their cooperation is not just tactical; it is strategically driven by long-term concerns over regional balance.”

In late April 2025, Hanoi hosted the fourth Vietnam-India Army Staff Officer Consultation, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to stronger army-to-army ties. Vietnam People’s Army Lt. Gen. Nguyen Quang Ngoc highlighted expanded cooperation, especially in U.N. peacekeeping, training and joint education, according to the People’s Army Newspaper. Indian Army Maj. Gen. Akaash Johar, who led the visiting delegation, pledged to coordinate with Vietnam.

Among the forces’ engagements is the annual Vietnam-India Bilateral Army Exercise, which focuses on peacekeeping operations.

The nations’ growing maritime security ties, meanwhile, were highlighted in February 2025 as Indian Navy vessels INS Sujata and ICGS Veera visited Vietnam’s Khanh Hoa province for joint exercises, port calls and cultural exchanges to build trust and operational synergy.

“Naval collaboration, including joint patrols and maritime domain awareness sharing, serves as a credible deterrent to Chinese aggression,” Mishra said.

In another key development, Indian Air Force personnel are training Vietnamese technicians in C-295M transport aircraft maintenance and operations, advancing interoperability, according to the Indian Defence Research Wing website. As the aircraft’s largest global operator, India is poised to become a regional hub for maintenance and overhaul, offering strategic and economic benefits to Vietnam and other Southeast Asian nations.

In early April 2025, an Indian Air Force delegation led by Group Capt. Sandeep Singh visited Vietnam’s Air Force Regiment 916 to discuss topics including training, and search and rescue. Singh also called for coordinated improvements to helicopter force capabilities, the People’s Army Newspaper reported.

Vietnam is finalizing a $700 million agreement to acquire the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, jointly developed by the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation. The system could be deployed from fighter aircraft and coastal batteries, significantly enhancing Vietnam’s maritime deterrence, India Today magazine reported.

The acquisition is part of Vietnam’s diversification of its defense partnerships, particularly in the wake of global sanctions imposed on Russian arms over Moscow’s war in Ukraine. India also has supported Vietnam’s military modernization through credit lines for patrol boats, the gifting of the Indian Navy missile corvette INS Kirpan, and training on platforms such as fighter jets and submarines, according to the Global Defense News website.

“Vietnam’s interest in BrahMos underscores its desire to modernize its forces while reducing dependence on Russian arms,” Mishra said. “This deal, once completed, will not only strengthen Vietnam’s defense posture but also elevate India’s status as a credible defense exporter.”

Mandeep Singh is a FORUM contributor reporting from New Delhi, India.