On November 11, 2025, Vietnam and India conducted their 15th Defence Policy Dialogue in Hanoi, reinforcing a multi-faceted defence partnership with particular emphasis on expanding bilateral defence industrial collaboration. This high-level dialogue, co-chaired by Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien of Vietnam and his Indian counterpart, Secretary of Defence Rajesh Kumar Singh, marked a pivotal advancement in both countries' strategies to bolster indigenous defence technology and manufacturing capabilities. The 2025 session demonstrated a mutual commitment to leveraging their defence synergies to address evolving regional security dynamics and supply chain vulnerabilities.

A central agenda item was the forthcoming Vietnam–India Bilateral Exercise 2025 (VINBAX 2025), scheduled to commence in Vietnam. This exercise is seen as a key vehicle to promote joint operational capabilities, military interoperability, and knowledge exchange between the two armed forces. Both sides expressed strong intentions to scale up not only the complexity but also the scope of these collaborative exercises, aiming to deepen practical cooperation and support defence industry modernization in line with global best practices.

Industrial cooperation took center stage, with Vietnamese and Indian officials agreeing to intensify existing joint ventures in areas such as defence manufacturing, maintenance, and supply chain integration. Vietnam signaled official support for India's enhanced engagement with ASEAN, particularly within the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) framework. This underpins a wider regional strategy wherein the two nations seek to anchor a secure, self-reliant supply base—especially crucial amid ongoing global disruptions affecting defence procurement and logistics.

The dialogue explored expanding bilateral cooperation in key emerging fields. Both sides proposed initiatives in cybersecurity solutions specifically oriented to military infrastructures, joint development of training and simulation facilities to raise troop preparedness, and the transfer of technological know-how for military medicine and humanitarian operations. Further, renewed commitment was articulated toward India's ongoing assistance via credit and grant packages, designed to upgrade Vietnam's indigenous research and production in crucial domains ranging from communications systems to advanced weapons platforms.

Notably, the session acknowledged the active implementation of bilateral defence collaboration across UN peacekeeping, officer professional exchanges, and industrial R&D. These efforts are supported by mechanisms for regular dialogue and risk mitigation, helping underpin long-term joint investment projects and providing avenues for contracting and business opportunities for industry suppliers in both countries. Both ministries underscored the value of sustained executive-level delegation exchanges to cement enduring relationships, facilitate confidential technology transfer arrangements, and smoothen the pathway for co-development deals involving major system integrators and supply chain vendors.

Looking ahead, the officials expressed confidence that defence cooperation would remain a pillar of the Vietnam–India comprehensive strategic partnership. The parties agreed to identify and develop new commercial opportunities for cybersecurity, simulation technologies, integrated defensive systems, and dual-use infrastructure. The achievements of this policy dialogue are expected to accelerate the pacing of military modernization and private sector engagement in both markets, forming an enabling institutional and regulatory environment for industry participants, government procurement agencies, and technology providers active in the Asian B2B defence marketplace.