Union Minister for Defence Rajnath Singh during a bilateral meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence of Vietnam General Phan Van Giang, in New Delhi on May 6, 2026.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will embark on a four-day visit to Vietnam and South Korea from May 18 to strengthen defence and strategic ties with the two key Indo-Pacific partners.
According to sources in the Ministry of Defence, Mr. Singh will depart for Vietnam on May 18 and travel to South Korea on May 20. During the visit, he is expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts and also call on the Presidents of both countries.
Sources said discussions with Vietnam are likely to focus on the proposed export of the BrahMos cruise missile system, along with training support, logistics, and an initial batch of missiles. The deal, estimated to be worth around ₹5,800 crore (about $700 million), is currently under advanced negotiations.
The talks gathered momentum during Vietnamese President To Lam’s recent visit to India, where he held meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the official added.
If finalised, Vietnam would become the third country to acquire the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system after the Philippines and Indonesia. The Philippines signed a $375 million agreement in 2022, while Indonesia moved ahead with plans to finalise a deal worth at least $340 million earlier this year.
India has also offered assistance to Vietnam in the maintenance, repair, and modernisation of key military platforms, including Sukhoi Su-30 fighter aircraft and Kilo-class submarines, operated by the Vietnamese armed forces.
In South Korea, discussions are expected to centre around defence industrial cooperation and emerging technologies.
During the India-South Korea Summit held on April 20, 2026, Mr. Modi and President Lee Jae Myung announced the launch of the Korea-India Defence Accelerator (KIND-X).
The new initiative aims to connect defence businesses, start-ups, incubators, investors and universities from both countries to promote collaboration in futuristic military technologies.
The two sides already co-manufacture the K9 Vajra, a specialised artillery gun, and now plan to extend the same manufacturing model to futuristic technologies.
Published – May 12, 2026 09:51 pm IST
