Overview
- India’s national security adviser Ajit Doval visited Hanoi on an official two‑day trip and held high‑level meetings with Vietnam’s defence and public security chiefs to review and intensify bilateral defence and security cooperation, according to Indian and Vietnamese readouts.
- During talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang the two sides agreed to deepen defence engagement and explore more practical cooperation including defence industry participation at Vietnam’s December defence expo, officials said.
- Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security proposed negotiating a mutual arrangement to protect and exchange classified information and sought faster, near real‑time strategic information sharing with India, but no binding intelligence pact was signed during the visit.
- The meetings follow a series of institutional dialogues in 2026 on cyber, security and defence cooperation and build on earlier Indian support such as patrol boats, a gifted missile corvette and a BrahMos supply deal, which together create practical foundations for deeper ties.
- If implemented the proposed intelligence and cyber arrangements could sharpen maritime and strategic situational awareness for both countries, expand training and capacity building, and affect regional security dynamics in the South China Sea.