India and Vietnam have finalized a long-awaited agreement to export BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to Vietnam [1, 2].
The deal represents a significant shift in India's defense exports and strengthens Vietnam's military deterrence capabilities amid ongoing tensions with China [1, 3].
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh represented India during the proceedings at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore this month [1, 2]. The BrahMos system, co-developed by India and Russia, is designed for high-speed strikes and is intended to deepen the strategic defense cooperation between New Delhi and Hanoi [1, 3].
While reports from the Shangri-La Dialogue indicate the pact is signed [1], earlier reports suggested the sale remained under discussion during a presidential visit by Vietnamese President To Lam [3]. The agreement follows a pattern of India seeking to expand its footprint as a defense supplier in Southeast Asia, a goal that includes ongoing negotiations with other regional partners [2].
Follow-up talks regarding the implementation of the missile transfer are expected to take place in New Delhi [3]. The acquisition of the BrahMos system allows Vietnam to enhance its coastal defense, and rapid-response capabilities using a platform known for its precision and supersonic speed [1].
“India and Vietnam have finalized a long-awaited agreement to export BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.”
This agreement signals India's transition from a primary arms importer to a strategic exporter of high-end technology. By providing Vietnam with supersonic cruise missiles, India is actively supporting a regional partner's ability to deter aggression in the South China Sea, effectively aligning its defense industry with its broader geopolitical goal of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
