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India may decide to sell supersonic BrahMos missiles to the Vietnamese
navy, which may have implications in the disputed waters of the South
China. Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung today reached New Delhi
on a two-day visit here. He will hold talks on a range of issues with
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow.
As India widens its arc of influence, Vietnam has emerged as pillar of
New Delhi’s ‘Look East Policy’. New age missiles, warships and
additional training of Navy personnel will be on the agenda during
Dung’s visit.
The policy entails long-term strategic engagement with countries that
are located east of it. If India decides to sell BrahMos missiles to the
Vietnamese navy, this could change the dynamics in the disputed waters
of the South China Sea where India has interests in freedom of
navigation for cargo carrying ships through the waters and oil
exploration blocks.
Vietnam is one of the six countries along with China which dispute each
other’s territorial limits at sea and the matter is pending in the
United Nations for a final decision. India, has stated a target of
achieving a $100 billon trade with the ASEAN – all located east of India
– by 2015 and needs free shipping rights.
Defence equipment supplies and military training are on the agenda
tomorrow. India has extended a $100 million (approx Rs 600 crore) line
of credit to Vietnam for the purchase of military hardware. This money
could go for acquisition of BrahMos missiles and for four off-shore
patrol vessels. A few Indian naval warships are equipped with these
missiles which are produced under a joint India-Russia venture. A
land-fired version has been inducted into the Indian Army while the
air-use version is being retro-fitted onto the Sukhoi-30-MKI fighter jets.
Indian Navy for the past three years has been training their Vietnamese
counterparts in operating the Russian-origin Kilo-class of submarines
which Hanoi has procured from Moscow. Over 500 personnel have been
trained and Vietnam wants more. Vietnam has two-of the Kilo class
vessels and third is expected to reach there by November and the fleet
of six will be completed by next year. Indian Navy also operates the
Russian submarine, hence was the ideal trainer for Vietnam. New Delhi
could also allow transfer four naval offshore patrol vessels to Vietnam.
Though the $100 million credit line was first announced in 2013, the
first hint that India could be open up exports was in June this year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi while on a visit to the Aircraft carrier
INS Vikramaditya said the country should export indigenously made
weapons to smaller countries.
There is a prospect of India launching Vietnam’s satellites into space
and this is among the long-list of items identified as ‘expansion of
bilateral relations’.
Source : India may sell BrahMos missiles to Vietnam With focus on defence cooperation, Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung to meet Modi today | idrw.org
