Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Saturday, 30 May confirmed that India has already signed a BrahMos cruise missile deal with Vietnam, while a similar agreement with Indonesia is in its final stages. The disclosure came during a media interaction on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, marking a significant step in India's expanding defence export footprint across Southeast Asia.

What the Defence Secretary Said

Responding to a question from a Vietnamese delegate, Singh stated that the Vietnam deal had been concluded, though not yet publicly announced. 'My understanding is that with both Indonesia and with Vietnam, the deal is in the final stages. In fact, for Vietnam, I understand that it has already been signed, probably not publicly announced, but it's already been signed,' he said.

Singh further underscored India's willingness to share advanced military technology with friendly nations. 'We treat you all as friendly foreign countries with whom we can share advanced defence technology,' he told the gathering in Singapore.

The Philippines Precedent

The Philippines became the first international buyer of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile — jointly developed by India and Russia — receiving its first batch in 2024. India delivered the second batch in April 2025. The Philippines deal established a commercial and diplomatic template that New Delhi is now replicating across the ASEAN region.

Rajnath Singh's Hanoi Visit and the Upgraded Partnership

Earlier in May, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh travelled to Hanoi for wide-ranging talks with his Vietnamese counterpart, General Phan Van Giang, covering maritime security, defence industry collaboration, training, and regional stability. The visit coincided with the 10th anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations.

The partnership was further elevated to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the state visit of Vietnamese President To Lam earlier this month. Defence Minister Singh also called on the President and reaffirmed India's commitment to deepening bilateral ties. 'India and Vietnam share a strong bond rooted in mutual trust, shared values and close cooperation in defence, security and regional stability,' Singh wrote in a post on X following the meeting.

India's Defence Export Ambitions

Defence Minister Singh has voiced confidence that India's defence exports will reach ₹50,000 crore by 2030. Defence analysts note that as India's defence market expands, New Delhi is strategically widening its influence in regions aligned with its geopolitical interests, with the Global South — and ASEAN in particular — becoming a central pillar of that outlook. This comes amid India's broader push to reduce its own import dependence and position itself as a credible arms exporter. Notably, BrahMos deals serve a dual purpose: they generate export revenue while reinforcing India's strategic partnerships in a region where China's maritime assertiveness remains a shared concern.