India and Vietnam have signed a Joint Vision Statement on defence cooperation for 2015-2020. The statement was witnessed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and the Vietnamese Minister for National Defence Phùng Quang Thanh in New Delhi. The ministers have discussed issues concerning defence cooperation, including cooperation in the area of maritime security. Both sides have promised their commitment to further enhancing the ongoing defence engagements.

The Vietnamese are keen on India training their submarine personnel. India was also looking at selling the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile to Vietnam. But the official announcement is yet to release. India and Vietnam have forged a closer economic and strategic relationship in the last decade after increasing Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea as well as India’s own ‘Act East’ policy.

German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, who is on three-day visit to India, seek to deepen bilateral ties, besides focusing on regional and international security and defence issues. Leyen will hold bilateral talks with her counterpart Manohar Parrikar.