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 VIETNAM DEFENCE 2022 SHOW PREVIEW

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BOLSTERING COOPERATION

VIETNAM IS ON THE significantly enhance the scope and scale of existing defence coop-
eration,” an official at the India’s Ministry of Defence said.
PATH OF DIVERSIFYING
ITS ARMS PURCHASES India and Vietnam also signed an MoU, focused on mutual logistics
support to enable the two countries to use each other’s military
bases to repair and replenish supplies. According to the official, this
 JAY MENON agreement is “the first such major agreement which Vietnam has
As Vietnam seeks to diversify its arms purchases signed with any country.” This arrangement will mainly benefit the
from traditional suppliers such as Russia and Indian Navy as it ramps up its profile in the Indo-Pacific. Both the
the U.S., countries like India, Japan and Israel ministers also agreed for early finalisation of $US500 million Defence
could emerge as potential exporters of defence Line of Credit to Vietnam. Implementation of the projects shall add
equipment. substantially to Vietnam’s Defence capabilities.

From 1995 to 2015, Russia provided 90 per cent As part of the US$ 500 million LoC, India has offered Vietnam
of Vietnam’s arms procurements, but from 2016 BrahMos cruise missiles, Akash missile air defence system, Varunastra
to 2021 Russia’s share dropped to 63 per cent. anti-submarine torpedoes, and coastal radars. According to Dr.
Vietnam’s desire to deepen strategic relations Sameer Patil is a Senior Fellow at ORF Mumbai, both countries have
with the United States may be encouraging it been in talks about the Akash system since 2017, as Vietnam is looking
to reduce dependence on Russian arms, but it to replace its ageing Soviet-era S-125/S-75 mid-tier surface-to-air
also follows the broader regional trend of diver- missile systems.
sifying suppliers.
Recently, Vietnam has turned to India, Japan “More likely is the purchase of BrahMos missiles, co-developed by
and Israel for its defence requirements. India and Russia. After bagging its first export order for the missile
from the Philippines earlier this year, India is keen to maintain the
GROWING INDIA TIES momentum by aggressively pitching the missile system to Hanoi. This
export push serves the dual purpose of boosting India’s defence
Last June, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh industry and arming a key Southeast Asian nation that keeps China
paid a three-day visit to Hanoi to strengthen on edge,” Dr Patil noted.
defence and security ties with Vietnam’s
National Defence General Phan Van Giang. Under an earlier Line of Credit of $US100 million, India delivered over
The two sides discussed regional security issues 12 High Speed Guard Boats to Vietnam during the Indian defence
and signed agreements to expand their defence minister’s visit to Hong Ha Shipyard in Hai Phong on June 09, 2022.
engagement. The initial five boats were built in the Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Shipyard
in India and the other seven in Hong Ha Shipyard. The defence
“The two defence ministers also signed the minister also announced gifting two simulators and monetary grant
‘Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam towards setting up of Language and IT Lab at Air Force Officers
Defence Partnership towards 2030’, which will Training School for capacity building of Vietnamese Armed Forces.

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