New Delhi: India and Vietnam are close to finalizing a deal for the supply of the supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, with an agreement worth around ₹5,800 crore expected to be signed soon.
According to defense sources, the deal may be concluded during the upcoming three-day visit of Vietnam’s President To Lam to India next week.
The Ministry of External Affairs stated that President To Lam will visit India from May 5 to May 7 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the visit, both leaders will hold bilateral talks. A delegation including Vietnamese ministers and business representatives will also travel to Mumbai to discuss economic agreements. The delegation is also scheduled to visit Bodh Gaya.
This visit marks a decade of the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which was established in 2016 during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Vietnam.
To Lam: A Powerful Leader in Vietnam
To Lam currently holds both the positions of President and General Secretary of the Communist Party in Vietnam, making him one of the most influential leaders in the country in decades. His early visit to India after assuming the presidency highlights Hanoi’s growing reliance on New Delhi for its security needs.
Strengthening Maritime Defense
The proposed deal includes the shore-based, anti-ship version of the BrahMos missile. This would significantly enhance Vietnam’s defense capabilities in the South China Sea.
The BrahMos missile is a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia, and Russia has approved its export to Vietnam. The deal is expected to further deepen military cooperation between the two countries.
Strategic Significance in Southeast Asia
The Philippines became the first country in the world to purchase BrahMos missiles from India. Recently, a similar agreement was also signed with Indonesia, where the missiles will be deployed on naval warships.
If finalized, Vietnam would become the third major Southeast Asian country—after the Philippines and Indonesia—to acquire BrahMos missiles. The growing demand for BrahMos in the region is seen as a move to maintain strategic balance amid China’s expanding influence in the South China Sea.
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