India and Vietnam have agreed to deepen defence and security cooperation, including the co-production of Indian defence equipment, following high-level talks in New Delhi.
The understanding was reached during the 19th India-Vietnam Joint Commission Meeting on trade, economic, scientific and technological cooperation, co-chaired by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung.
Defence and Security Focus
The two sides identified the way forward for stronger defence collaboration. Key elements include:
Co-production of Indian defence items
Continued capacity building and trainingMaritime security cooperation
This builds on earlier steps such as a Letter of Intent for defence industry collaboration and a framework for submarine search, rescue and support. India has previously supplied high-speed guard boats and gifted a missile corvette to Vietnam under lines of credit.
The enhanced partnership is viewed against the backdrop of shared concerns over stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Broader Areas of Cooperation
Beyond defence, the ministers discussed:
Expanding trade, investments and mutually beneficial supply chains
Greater market access for Indian marine products, agricultural goods and pharmaceuticals
Strengthening financial, port and air connectivity
Opportunities in nuclear energy and the space sector
Heritage conservation, standards for seafarers, capacity building and people-to-people ties
The talks also noted the momentum generated by Vietnamese leader To Lam’s engagements with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including during his State Visit to India in May 2026, when the relationship was elevated to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Both sides agreed to observe 2027 as the Year of India-Vietnam Friendship, marking 55 years of diplomatic relations.
Defence and security cooperation remains a central pillar of the India-Vietnam partnership. The latest agreements signal a shift from equipment transfers toward deeper industrial collaboration, supporting Vietnam’s defence modernisation while advancing India’s role as a reliable defence partner in the region.
The two countries also exchanged views on regional and global developments and reaffirmed coordination in multilateral forums.