India seals BrahMos missile deal with Vietnam, eyes Indonesia next
India has confirmed signing a deal to supply BrahMos cruise missiles to Vietnam. New Delhi said similar discussions with Indonesia are in their final stage. The move expands India's Indo-Pacific defence-diplomacy footprint.
South China Morning Post · ReutersIndia's Ministry of Defence has confirmed that an agreement to supply BrahMos cruise missiles to Vietnam has been formally signed. The deal's value has not been disclosed publicly, but according to SCMP sources is around $700 million. India's Defence Secretary RK Singh said a similar agreement with Indonesia is in its 'final stage'.
BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile produced by the BrahMos Aerospace joint venture between India and Russia. New Delhi's Indo-Pacific defence-diplomacy priorities include Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning did not comment directly on the announcement but repeated Beijing's standard call for 'regional stability'.
Tanvi Madan of the Wilson Center said the deal 'indicates India's preference for a balancing-rather-than-containment regional role'. US Indo-Pacific Command Admiral Stephen Koehler said Washington does not object to allies' weapons-procurement preferences. An ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting is scheduled for 12 June in Jakarta. This article is sector analysis and not investment or defence-procurement advice.
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