Vietnam is expected to order three to five units of BrahMos BRKs coastal missiles on the occasion of Defense Minister Pham Van Giang’s upcoming visit to India.
Zee Business newspaper network in India exclusively reported the above information on June 9. Accordingly, the official signing of the purchase and sale contract will take place on the occasion of the Vietnamese Defense Minister’s arrival in New Delhi on June 19. The value of a battery of BrahMos BRKs is about $125 million; if Hanoi buys a total of five batteries, the amount will be $625 million.
The visit of the Vietnamese defense chief is said to be evidence of the strengthening of the bilateral defense relationship between Vietnam and India. Currently, Hanoi is dealing with Beijing’s aggressive expansion in the South China Sea, even though the two countries claim to be communist comrades to each other.
News said that Vietnam’s plan to negotiate to buy BrahMos missiles from India took place from 2017; However, this plan was delayed due to price bracket issues.
Earlier in 2016, India offered Vietnam a defense credit of $500 million to buy weapons, including modern patrol boats and anti-submarine equipment refurbished for two old Project 159 SKR-1 patrol boats.
One year ago, from June 7-10, 2022, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh paid a visit to Vietnam on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two sides. On this occasion, Hanoi and New Delhi signed the Joint Vision Statement on bilateral defense relations to 2030.
In addition, the two countries also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on military logistical support (the first such agreement in Vietnam), allowing the militaries of the two countries to use each other’s bases for repair, treatment, and supplies. Since 2016, India has signed six other such logistics treaties with countries such as Japan, Australia, France, Singapore, South Korea and the US. This is a landmark agreement, as it allows warships – including military aircraft of the signatory nation – to refuel and dock at each other’s bases.
Thoibao.de (Translated)
