{"id":58952,"date":"2025-11-11T20:07:38","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T14:37:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=58952"},"modified":"2025-11-12T12:21:12","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T06:51:12","slug":"india-vietnam-defence-ties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/11-11-2025\/india-vietnam-defence-ties","title":{"rendered":"India and Vietnam: Strengthening Defence Ties"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/International Relation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recently, <strong>India and Vietnam<\/strong> convened the <strong>15th Defence Policy Dialogue<\/strong> in Hanoi, reaffirming their commitment to deepening defence cooperation across traditional and emerging domains.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Key Agreements Signed<\/strong><br>&#8211; A <strong>Memorandum of Agreement on Mutual Submarine Search, Rescue Support and Cooperation<\/strong>, marking a new phase of operational coordination in maritime safety.<br>&#8211; A <strong>Letter of Intent on Defence Industry Cooperation<\/strong>, aimed at expanding collaboration in defence manufacturing, research, and technology exchange.<br>&#8211; <strong>Reinforcing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: <\/strong>Both nations underscored that their <strong>defence partnership remains a cornerstone of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership<\/strong> between India and Vietnam.<br>1. They reaffirmed shared commitment to regional stability, maritime security, and a free, open, and<strong> rules-based Indo-Pacific region.<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About India\u2013Viet Nam Relationship<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Evolution of Relations:<\/strong> India and Viet Nam share a <strong>long-standing bilateral relationship<\/strong> built on historical, cultural, and political foundations, rooted in the shared ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and President Ho Chi Minh.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India established <strong>full diplomatic relations<\/strong> with Viet Nam in <strong>1972<\/strong>, and further evolved into political, economic, defence, cultural, and people-to-people cooperation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2016: <\/strong>Bilateral ties were elevated from a \u2018Strategic Partnership\u2019 to a <strong>Comprehensive Strategic Partnership<\/strong>. It was further defined by the <em>\u2018Joint Vision for Peace, Prosperity and People\u2019<\/em> adopted during the <strong>Virtual Summit (2020)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2022:<\/strong> 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations observed.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Political Exchanges:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Vietnamese Prime Minister&#8217;s Visit to India (2024):<\/strong> It led to the <strong>signing of a Plan of Action for 2024\u20132028<\/strong> and <strong>ten bilateral agreements,<\/strong> expanding cooperation across diverse sectors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>High-level meetings<\/strong> were held between the two Prime Ministers on the sidelines of major global summits <strong>such as ASEAN, BRICS, and G7 Plus.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bilateral exchanges between ministers of defence, justice, and public security, along with frequent interactions at multilateral forums, further strengthened political understanding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Institutional Mechanisms:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Joint Commission Meeting (JCM), 2023:<\/strong> The 18th JCM on Economic, Trade, Scientific, and Technological Cooperation was held in Hanoi.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strategic Dialogue &amp; Foreign Office Consultations, 2025:<\/strong> The 13th round was conducted in <strong>New Delhi<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Defence, Maritime, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/08-07-2025\/atomic-energy-homebuilt-700mwe-licence\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/08-07-2025\/atomic-energy-homebuilt-700mwe-licence\">Atomic Energy<\/a>, and Policy Planning Dialogues<\/strong> are held periodically to coordinate activities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Parliamentary exchanges, such as the <strong>Viet Nam \u2013 India Parliamentary Friendship Group<\/strong>, enhance inter-parliamentary collaboration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Defence and Security Cooperation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Guided by the <strong>Joint Vision on Defence Partnership towards 2030<\/strong>, cooperation includes logistics, training, and defence production.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India gifted an <strong>indigenously built missile corvette INS Kirpan<\/strong> to Viet Nam in 2023.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Regular <strong>staff talks<\/strong>, <strong>joint exercises<\/strong>, and <strong>naval visits<\/strong> underscore strong defence collaboration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>5th Viet Nam\u2013India Bilateral Army Exercise (VINBAX-2024)<\/strong> and participation in <strong>MILAN-2024<\/strong> demonstrate operational cooperation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Security dialogue mechanisms focus on <strong>counter-terrorism<\/strong> and <strong>transnational crime prevention<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Trade and Economic Cooperation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bilateral trade has reached <strong>USD 15.76 billion (2024\u201325)<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>India\u2019s exports<\/strong> include engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural products.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>India\u2019s imports <\/strong>mainly consist of electronics, machinery, coffee, and garments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Indian investments<\/strong> in Viet Nam total around <strong>USD 2 billion<\/strong>, with over 430 active projects.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Viet Nam\u2019s investments in India stand at approximately <strong>USD 12.69 million<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>VinFast\u2019s EV assembly plant<\/strong> in Tamil Nadu marks a new chapter in industrial cooperation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Trade fairs and business forums<\/strong> such as VINAMAC, Vietramed, and Bharat Global Mobility Expo promote mutual business engagement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Development Partnership<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India\u2019s development cooperation with Viet Nam spans education, capacity building, and community development:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Over <strong>200 Vietnamese nationals<\/strong> receive training annually under the <strong>ITEC<\/strong> and <strong>ICCR<\/strong> programmes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India has contributed to institutions like the <strong>Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute<\/strong>, <strong>Hi-Tech Cyber Forensic Laboratory<\/strong>, and <strong>Advanced ICT Centre<\/strong> in Hanoi.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), <\/strong>46 completed since 2017, benefit local communities in over 39 provinces.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India supports <strong>heritage conservation<\/strong> projects such as the <strong>My Son Sanctuary restoration<\/strong>, reinforcing civilizational ties.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Under <strong>Operation Sadbhav (2024)<\/strong>, India extended humanitarian aid worth USD 1 million to typhoon-affected regions in Viet Nam.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cultural, Academic, and Provincial-Level Exchanges<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC)<\/strong> in Hanoi promotes yoga, art, and cultural programmes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Vesak celebrations (2025)<\/strong> saw 15.5 million devotees venerate the <strong>Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha<\/strong> across Viet Nam.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Academic cooperation<\/strong> includes partnerships between ICWA, HCMNAP, and IIPA, fostering policy and research collaboration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cultural troupes, youth exchanges, and <strong>India\u2013Viet Nam Film Festivals<\/strong> enhance mutual understanding.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The co-production <strong>\u2018Love in Vietnam\u2019<\/strong>, premiered at the <strong>Da Nang Asian Film Festival 2025<\/strong>, symbolizes growing cultural ties.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Indian Community in Viet Nam: <\/strong>Approximately <strong>8,000 Indians<\/strong> reside in Viet Nam, primarily in <strong>Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi<\/strong>, contributing to sectors such as IT, mining, education, and trade.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Concerns &amp; Related Suggestions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>China\u2019s Assertiveness:<\/strong> Both countries share concerns over China\u2019s growing influence \u2014 <strong>India in the Himalayas<\/strong> and <strong>Vietnam in the South China Sea<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Vietnam\u2019s proximity and economic ties with China require careful diplomatic balancing, which may limit overt strategic alignment with India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ASEAN Dynamics:<\/strong> Vietnam\u2019s role within ASEAN sometimes requires <strong>consensus-based diplomacy,<\/strong> which <strong>can slow bilateral initiatives with India<\/strong> that demand quicker execution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Technology Transfer &amp; Capacity Gaps:<\/strong> While India and Vietnam have signed agreements on defence manufacturing and training, actual implementation is often hampered by bureaucratic delays and limited industrial capacity.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Operationalizing the recent MoU on submarine search and rescue requires sustained investment and trust-building.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Low Bilateral Trade Volume<\/strong>: Despite growing ties, trade between India and Vietnam remains below potential.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tariff barriers, logistical bottlenecks, and lack of awareness among businesses hinder deeper economic integration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Digital &amp; Infrastructure Gaps:<\/strong> Vietnam\u2019s digital transformation is accelerating, but India\u2019s engagement in tech and innovation sectors remains limited compared to <strong>other partners like South Korea or Japan.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>India\u2013Viet Nam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership<\/strong> continues to thrive as a model of mutual respect, shared growth, and regional stability. Guided by the vision of <em>\u2018Peace, Prosperity, and People\u2019<\/em> both nations remain committed to expanding cooperation across political, economic, defence, and cultural dimensions.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India and Viet Nam stand as steadfast partners in shaping a secure, sustainable, and inclusive future for the region, with a shared Indo-Pacific outlook and centuries-old civilizational ties.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/india-vietnam-boost-defence-ties-at-15th-defence-policy-dialogue\/article70263109.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source: TH<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Context<\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Recently, India and Vietnam convened the 15th Defence Policy Dialogue in Hanoi, reaffirming their commitment to deepening defence cooperation across traditional and emerging domains.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong>About India\u2013Viet Nam Relationship<\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Evolution of Relations: India and Viet Nam share a long-standing bilateral relationship built on historical, cultural, and political foundations, rooted in the shared ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and President Ho Chi Minh.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">India established full diplomatic relations with Viet Nam in 1972, and further evolved into political, economic, defence, cultural, and people-to-people cooperation.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">2016: Bilateral ties were elevated from a \u2018Strategic Partnership\u2019 to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It was further defined by the \u2018Joint Vision for Peace, Prosperity and People\u2019 adopted during the Virtual Summit (2020).<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">2022: 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations observed.\u00a0<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/11-11-2025\/india-vietnam-defence-ties\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read\u00a0More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-58952","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58952","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58952"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58952\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58985,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58952\/revisions\/58985"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58952"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58952"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58952"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}