India and Vietnam Strengthen Defence Partnership With Focus on Technology and Maritime Security

India and Vietnam are giving fresh momentum to their defence relationship, with the two countries exploring wider cooperation in defence technology, industrial collaboration and maritime security. The latest discussions indicate that bilateral defence ties are moving towards more practical areas of cooperation as both nations strengthen their strategic engagement in the Indo-Pacific.

India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh met Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of National Defence, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang, in New Delhi on September 13, 2026. The meeting came shortly after the Indian and Vietnamese prime ministers held discussions on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.

A key outcome of the meeting was the decision to place greater emphasis on practical defence cooperation. India and Vietnam discussed speeding up joint initiatives and expanding opportunities for technology sharing and cooperation between their defence industries.

The focus on defence technology is significant as both countries look to develop stronger domestic capabilities. Increased interaction between their defence establishments and industrial sectors could open new avenues for technical cooperation and joint initiatives in the future.

Maritime security is another area gaining importance within the bilateral relationship. India and Vietnam have strategic interests in maintaining stability across the Indo-Pacific, and both sides reiterated their commitment to closer maritime and defence cooperation aimed at supporting a peaceful and rules-based regional environment.

The two countries also placed emphasis on multilateral security cooperation. India and Vietnam highlighted the importance of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus, particularly its Experts’ Working Groups, as a mechanism for countries in the region to cooperate on shared security concerns and strengthen collective responses to emerging challenges.

The renewed defence engagement comes as India and Vietnam continue to broaden their overall strategic partnership. Defence cooperation has developed through regular military interactions and other forms of engagement, while maritime cooperation has become an increasingly important element of their relationship.

The latest discussions also established a future milestone for bilateral defence engagement. India will host the next Defence Policy Dialogue on the sidelines of Aero India 2027, providing the two countries with another opportunity to assess existing cooperation and discuss new areas for collaboration.

For New Delhi, stronger defence relations with Hanoi form part of its wider engagement with Southeast Asia and its efforts to build closer security partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. Vietnam, meanwhile, remains an important regional partner for India as both countries seek greater coordination on maritime security and regional stability.

The latest meeting suggests that India-Vietnam defence relations are increasingly expanding beyond conventional military engagement. With technology, defence industry cooperation and maritime security receiving greater attention, the partnership could develop into a broader platform for long-term strategic and industrial cooperation.