Vietnam to Acquire Indian BrahMos Cruise Missiles Amid Concerns Over China's Military Expansion
Vietnam has agreed to purchase India's BrahMos cruise missiles, becoming the second foreign buyer after the Philippines, according to an announcement by India's Defense Secretary at a Singapore security summit. The deal reflects Vietnam's efforts to balance warming economic ties with China against persistent security concerns over Beijing's military buildup and territorial claims in the South China Sea. The acquisition underscores India's expanding defense partnerships in Southeast Asia as part of its strategic 'Act East' policy.
Vietnam is set to acquire India's BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, a co-development with Russia that travels at nearly three times the speed of sound with a range of approximately 180 miles. The deal was officially acknowledged by Indian Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on May 30 at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, with similar agreements reportedly nearing completion for Indonesia. Vietnam's purchase reflects a strategic calculation: despite China being its largest trading partner and recent efforts to improve bilateral relations, Hanoi remains concerned about Beijing's expanding military capabilities and territorial ambitions, particularly regarding disputed areas of the South China Sea including the Paracel Islands and the Gulf of Tonkin. Analysts note the BrahMos represents a capability upgrade for Vietnam's coastal defense but is not a transformative shift in regional military balance, given China's vastly larger and more sophisticated arsenal. The acquisition demonstrates Vietnam's broader strategy of diversifying defense partnerships with countries including the United States, India, Japan, and Australia while maintaining economic engagement with China.
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Wary of China's Military Buildup, Vietnam Buys Indian Cruise Missiles
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