India and Vietnam have finalised the BrahMos defence deal, which is deemed as a major impetus and breakthrough in the defence indigenisation path of India. With this deal, New Delhi’s goal of emerging as a key defence export hub has also gained traction. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh made the announcement regarding the sealing of India-Vietnam BrahMos deal on the sidelines of Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore. Apart from Vietnam, India is also holding final rounds of discussion with Indonesia and is inching towards inking a BrahMos deal.
As per the agreement, India will sell BrahMos missiles to Vietnam, which is a state-of the-art supersonic missile. Apart from the BrahMos deal, Vietnam also launched 2+2 Ministerial dialogue with Vietnam which entails annual bilateral discussions pertaining to defence, security and diplomacy between the defence and foreign ministers of the respective countries. Prior to Vietnam and Indonesia, the Philippines was the maiden nation to purchase BrahMos missiles from India worth USD 375 million. This growing defence partnership of India with the countries of Southeast Asia, testifies the role of New Delhi as a credible defence partner in the region.
By forging strong defence partnerships with nations in the region such as Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia etc. India can consolidate the regional security architecture from the forefront across the Indo-Pacific. Such solid defence cooperation helps to counter aggressive behaviour, expansionism, terror activities and other illicit motives in Asia and beyond. It helps India and the like-minded countries in the region to carve self-reliance in the defence sector thereby have strategic autonomy and sound offenive-defensive capabilities during the times of conflict and other unforeseen contingencies.
In an era where regional confrontations are spiking, maritime corridors are evolving as contentious zones and trust deficit is escalating among the nations, such defence partnerships with the members of the Southeast Asian nations form the defining defence relations of the decade that helps to navigate common challenges and seek collective security. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh also sighted about the growing ambition and strategy to consolidate strong defence relations with the ASEAN economies. This is deemed as a critical and strategic edge to foster security when the geopolitical gravity is shifting towards Indo-Pacific and hard-nosed contests are silently brewing in the region.
Recently Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with his Vietnamese counterpart during Vietnam President To Lam visit to India. Both leaders acknowledged growing competition in the Indo-Pacific and agreed for greater defence industrial cooperation, increased training & capacity building programmes.
BrahMos supersonic missile, jointly developed by India and Russia is regarded as the world’s fastest cruise missile with a range of 290kms. It is a two-stage missile and can be launched from land, air sea and submarine thus, hailed for its versatility and flexibility. Recently, India also unveiled a BrahMos manufacturing unit in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, thus streamlining and rendering a major imperative to the defence indigenisation and export goal of India.
