India-Vietnam Defence Ties: NSA Ajit Doval Pushes for Deeper Cooperation in Hanoi
NSA Ajit Doval meets Vietnam's Defence Minister in Hanoi to deepen bilateral defence cooperation and the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
In a significant move to bolster strategic ties in Southeast Asia, India's National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval has held high-level talks in Hanoi to review and expand India Vietnam defence cooperation. During his official visit, the NSA met with General Phan Van Giang, who serves as Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, to chart a course for deeper engagement in the security sector.
Strategic Dialogue in Hanoi
The meeting, as shared by the Embassy of India in Vietnam via X, focused on evaluating the current state of bilateral defence ties. Both leaders expressed a mutual commitment to strengthening their partnership, exploring new avenues to enhance collaboration in the domain of national security.
NSA Doval's arrival in Hanoi on Sunday marks a critical step in maintaining the momentum of the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This partnership serves as the overarching framework for the diplomatic, economic, and security interactions between the two nations.
A Partnership on the Rise
The current diplomatic push follows a landmark elevation of relations during Vietnamese President To Lam's visit to India in May 2026. During that visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President To Lam engaged in extensive discussions regarding regional stability and global issues.
The two leaders emphasized that a robust bond between New Delhi and Hanoi is not just a bilateral win but a contribution to their broader national ambitions. Specifically, this cooperation is seen as a catalyst for:
- Viksit Bharat 2047: India's vision for a developed nation by 2047.
- Vision 2045: Vietnam's long-term developmental goals.
Central to this growth is the Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030, which continues to act as the roadmap for expanding military and security ties.
Beyond Traditional Defence: The Security Dialogue
The NSA's visit comes on the heels of the fourth India-Vietnam Security Dialogue held recently in New Delhi. This biennial dialogue, governed by a 2016 Memorandum of Understanding between India's National Security Council Secretariat and Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security, delves into non-traditional security threats.
Co-chaired by India's Deputy NSA Pavan Kapoor and Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Public Security, Senior Lieutenant General Pham The Tung, the dialogue covered several critical pillars:
- Maritime Engagements: Ensuring security and stability in shared waters.
- Cybersecurity & Emerging Tech: Collaborating on the challenges of the digital age.
- Counter-Terrorism: Sharing intelligence and strategies to combat terror.
- Economic Security: Protecting financial and resource interests.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted that both sides reaffirmed their commitment to closer collaboration on issues of mutual interest while reviewing the complex regional and global security environment.
With the NSA's current interactions with the Vietnamese leadership, India continues to signal its commitment to a stable and secure Indo-Pacific region through a strengthened alliance with Hanoi.