Abstract
India–Vietnam defence cooperation has gained renewed attention amid evolving security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. Both countries increasingly perceive each other as reliable strategic partners, bound by shared concerns over maritime security, regional stability, and the preservation of a rules-based order. This paper examines the apparent paradox underlying this relationship. While strategic interests between India and Vietnam are increasingly convergent, defence cooperation continues to develop in a measured and restrained manner. Drawing on official statements, policy documents, and existing scholarly work, the study traces the evolution of bilateral defence engagement and identifies key areas of alignment, particularly in naval cooperation, capacity building, and strategic dialogue. At the same time, it highlights the political, structural, and regional constraints that limit the depth of cooperation, including Vietnam’s emphasis on strategic autonomy, India’s cautious defence outreach, and sensitivities within the wider Southeast Asian security environment. The paper argues that India–Vietnam defence cooperation is best understood not as a precursor to alliance formation, but as a pragmatic and calibrated partnership shaped equally by opportunity and restraint. By situating this bilateral relationship within broader debates on middle-power strategy and regional security, the study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of defence cooperation in contemporary Asia.