India, Vietnam agree to deepen defence ties, co-produce military equipment

International Relations · 15 September 2026 · Based on Indian Express (original report)

Worth reading — 1 past UPSC question on this theme (Mains GS-2 2016).

2-minute summary

During the 19th India-Vietnam Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) in New Delhi, India and Vietnam agreed to significantly deepen their defence and security cooperation, focusing on the co-production of Indian military equipment. Vietnam is a cornerstone of India's Act East Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR, and its Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). Bilateral defence ties have expanded from capacity building to active hardware transfers, highlighted by India gifting the missile corvette INS Kirpan in 2023 and delivering 12 high-speed guard boats funded by a USD 100 million Line of Credit. Additionally, two new Lines of Credit totaling USD 300 million were signed in 2024. Beyond defence, both nations are exploring deeper collaboration in trade, supply chains, nuclear energy, space, and connectivity, while planning to observe the upcoming year as the Year of India-Vietnam Friendship to mark 55 years of diplomatic relations.

Why it's in the news

India and Vietnam co-chaired the 19th Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) in New Delhi, where they agreed to elevate defence cooperation through the co-production of military equipment and expand bilateral trade, connectivity, and strategic ties.

Facts to remember

• India and Vietnam agreed to deepen their defence ties and co-produce Indian military equipment during the 19th India-Vietnam Joint Commission Meeting in New Delhi.
• Vietnam is a cornerstone of India's Act East Policy, Vision MAHASAGAR, and its Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
• India gifted the missile corvette INS Kirpan to Vietnam in 2023 and delivered 12 high-speed guard boats funded by a USD 100 million Line of Credit.
• Two new Lines of Credit totaling USD 300 million were signed between India and Vietnam in 2024.

Background and context

India and Vietnam share deep historical and civilizational links, rooted in Buddhism and shared struggles against colonial rule. Diplomatic relations were formally established in 1972. Over the decades, the relationship has steadily progressed from a Strategic Partnership in 2007 to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2016, and recently to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership—making Vietnam the first country in the Southeast Asian region to hold this status with India. Strategically, both nations share mutual concerns regarding China's aggressive maritime assertions in the South China Sea and the wider Indo-Pacific. Consequently, defence cooperation has transitioned from basic training and capacity building to advanced joint exercises, technology sharing, and defence hardware procurement supported by Indian Lines of Credit.

Constitutional provisions

• Seventh Schedule (Article 246) — List I (Union List) - Entry 10 (Foreign Affairs) and Entry 15 (War and Peace) vest the exclusive power of conducting foreign policy and defence agreements with the Central Government.
• Article 51 — Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) promote international peace and security, maintaining just and honourable relations between nations.

Government schemes

• Act East Policy — A diplomatic initiative to promote economic, strategic, and cultural relations with the Asia-Pacific region, with Vietnam serving as a key geographic and strategic pillar.
• Vision MAHASAGAR — An acronym for 'Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions', emphasizing collective maritime security and cooperation in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific.
• Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) — An open, non-treaty-based global initiative for a safe, secure, and stable maritime domain, which Vietnam actively supports.

International organisations

• ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) — Vietnam is an influential member of ASEAN, which acts as the central hub for India's multilateral engagements in the Indo-Pacific.

Previous UPSC questions on this theme

• Mains GS-2 2016 — Evaluate the economic and strategic dimensions of India's Look East Policy in the context of the post Cold War international scenario.

Mains practice: Assess the strategic significance of Vietnam in India's 'Act East Policy' and its wider Indo-Pacific vision, particularly in light of rising maritime challenges in the South China Sea.

Vietnam occupies a pivotal position in India's foreign policy matrix, serving as a key pillar of the 'Act East Policy' and a vital partner in India's Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). The relationship, recently elevated to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, is driven by shared geopolitical realities and mutual security interests.

**Strategic Significance of Vietnam to India:**

• **Counterweight to Regional Assertiveness:** Vietnam's critical geographic location along the South China Sea makes it indispensable for maintaining a rules-based order, freedom of navigation, and overflight, directly countering unilateral maritime assertions in the region.

• **Defence and Security Collaboration:** The bilateral defence partnership has evolved from capacity building to joint manufacturing. This is demonstrated by the gifting of the missile corvette INS Kirpan, the supply of high-speed guard boats, and the utilization of Indian Lines of Credit for defence procurement.

• **Maritime Security and Vision MAHASAGAR:** Vietnam's alignment with India's Vision MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) fosters collaborative maritime domain awareness, search and rescue operations, and anti-piracy measures.

• **Economic and Energy Security:** Vietnam offers critical supply chain diversification. Bilateral cooperation extends to oil and gas exploration in Vietnam's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), nuclear energy, space technology, and pharmaceutical trade.

In conclusion, Vietnam is central to India's strategic autonomy in the Indo-Pacific. Deepening defence co-production and maritime synergy with Vietnam allows India to project itself as a reliable security provider, ensuring a balanced, multipolar regional architecture.

Prelims practice questions

Q1. With reference to India's bilateral defence cooperation, the indigenously built missile corvette 'INS Kirpan' was gifted by India to which of the following countries?

1. Vietnam
2. Sri Lanka
3. Maldives
4. Myanmar

Answer: A. In July 2023, India gifted the indigenously built missile corvette INS Kirpan to Vietnam as part of its bilateral defence capacity-building assistance.

Q2. The term 'MAHASAGAR', sometimes seen in the news in the context of India's foreign policy, stands for:

1. Maritime Association for Humanitarian Assistance and Security Along Gulf Areas
2. Multilateral Agreement on Humanitarian Assistance and Security in Asian Regions
3. Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions
4. Maritime Alliance for Hydrographic Assessment and Security of Global Archipelagoes

Answer: C. Vision MAHASAGAR stands for 'Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions', which is India's initiative for active security and growth cooperation in the maritime domain.

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding India-Vietnam relations: 1. Vietnam is the first country in the Southeast Asian region with which India has elevated ties to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. 2. India and Vietnam have signed Lines of Credit through the Exim Bank of India to support Vietnam's defence procurement. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C. Both statements are correct. Vietnam is the first country in the region with which India has elevated ties to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Additionally, the Exim Bank of India has extended Lines of Credit (including USD 120 million and USD 180 million agreements) to support defence and developmental procurement.

Revision flashcards

• What is INS Kirpan and which country did India gift it to? INS Kirpan is an indigenously built Indian Navy Khukri-class missile corvette that was gifted to Vietnam in July 2023 to boost its maritime capabilities.
• What does the acronym 'MAHASAGAR' stand for in India's maritime diplomacy? It stands for 'Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions', representing India's outreach for collective maritime security.
• Which Southeast Asian nation is the first to establish an 'Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' with India? Vietnam.
• Which Indian manufacturer built the 12 high-speed guard boats delivered to Vietnam under a USD 100 million Line of Credit? Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
• What milestone will India and Vietnam mark to celebrate 55 years of diplomatic ties? They have agreed to designate the upcoming year as the 'Year of India-Vietnam Friendship'.