India and Vietnam are taking further steps to strengthen their defence partnership, with the two countries placing increased attention on practical cooperation in emerging technologies, defence production and maritime security. The latest engagement took place in New Delhi on September 13, 2026, when Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh met Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of National Defence, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang, during the BRICS Summit.
The meeting came shortly after discussions between the Prime Ministers of India and Vietnam on the sidelines of the summit and focused on advancing the countries’ Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. According to the Ministry of Defence, the latest talks covered ways to accelerate joint initiatives, expand technology sharing and encourage greater cooperation between the two defence industries.
Technology cooperation is becoming an increasingly important part of the India-Vietnam defence relationship. Both countries have been looking at ways to develop practical defence capabilities through greater interaction between their institutions and industries. Earlier in May, India and Vietnam also expanded their defence cooperation agenda to include areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, defence industrial collaboration and capacity building.
Maritime security remains another important element of the partnership. During the latest meeting, India and Vietnam reiterated their intention to expand maritime and defence cooperation in support of a peaceful, stable and rules-based regional security environment. Their wider defence engagement has included naval interactions, maritime cooperation, training and other activities aimed at strengthening operational and institutional links.
The two countries are also placing greater importance on cooperation through regional security mechanisms. India and Vietnam highlighted the role of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus, or ADMM-Plus, in facilitating practical defence cooperation and addressing complex security issues affecting the Indo-Pacific. Both sides also underlined the importance of the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Groups in supporting regional stability and wider security cooperation.
The latest development builds on the broader expansion of bilateral defence relations during 2026. In May, India and Vietnam discussed cooperation covering maritime security, defence industry, military training, capacity building, cyber security and regular defence exchanges. India also announced an Artificial Intelligence Lab at Vietnam’s Tele Communications University, while the two countries signed an agreement covering cooperation in AI and quantum technology.
The two sides are expected to maintain this institutional engagement through the next Defence Policy Dialogue, which India will host on the sidelines of Aero India 2027. The upcoming dialogue will provide another opportunity for both countries to review ongoing defence cooperation and identify additional areas for collaboration.
The latest India-Vietnam engagement shows that the defence relationship is moving beyond traditional military exchanges toward wider cooperation involving technology, industry and maritime security. With both countries continuing to work through bilateral and ASEAN-led platforms, defence cooperation remains an important component of their broader strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific.
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