India and Vietnam have agreed to significantly strengthen their defence and security cooperation, including exploring the joint production of Indian defence equipment, during the 19th India-Vietnam Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) held in New Delhi.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar co-chaired the meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart, Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung. The discussions reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral ties under the India-Vietnam Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which was elevated during Vietnamese leader To Lam’s state visit to India in May 2026.
On defence, the two sides identified clear pathways to deepen ongoing collaboration. This includes co-production of Indian defence items, building on earlier agreements such as a Letter of Intent on defence industry cooperation and a framework for submarine search, rescue, and support operations signed previously. India has already supplied platforms like the missile corvette INS Kirpan and high-speed guard boats to Vietnam under lines of credit.
The ministers also focused on expanding trade and investment, developing mutually beneficial supply chains, and improving market access for Indian marine products, agricultural goods, and pharmaceuticals in Vietnam. Both sides are working toward a bilateral trade target of USD 25 billion. Cooperation will also expand in port and air connectivity, nuclear energy, the space sector, heritage conservation, seafarer standards, capacity building, and people-to-people exchanges.
Jaishankar described Vietnam as a key partner in India’s Act East Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), and Indo-Pacific outlook, as well as within the ASEAN framework. The two sides exchanged views on regional and global issues, including developments in West Asia and the South China Sea, and reaffirmed commitment to closer coordination in multilateral forums.
Notably, India and Vietnam agreed to observe 2027 as the Year of India-Vietnam Friendship to mark 55 years of diplomatic relations. Vietnam’s engagement with India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative was also welcomed.
The productive and outcome-oriented meeting underscores the growing strategic alignment between the two nations amid shared concerns over regional stability in the Indo-Pacific. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the upward trajectory of ties and agreed to convene the next Joint Commission Meeting at a mutually convenient date.
This development reinforces India’s deepening engagement with Southeast Asia and Vietnam’s role as a pivotal partner in New Delhi’s regional strategy.