India Vietnam submarine rescue agreement 2025 strengthens maritime cooperation, Act East policy, and defence industry ties through a strategic MoA signed in Hanoi.
India and Vietnam Ink MoA for Submarine Search & Rescue Support
In a significant move to bolster maritime security and defence cooperation, India and Vietnam signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on Mutual Submarine Search, Rescue Support & Cooperation during the 15th India-Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue held in Hanoi on 10 November 2025.
The dialogue was co-chaired by India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of National Defence Sr Lt Gen Hoang Xuan Chien.
What the Agreement Covers
The MoA lays down a formal framework through which both navies will coordinate in case of submarine-related emergencies. This includes deployment of personnel, equipment and technical expertise; agreed protocols and training for joint operations; and sharing of information and rescue capabilities.
On the sidelines, the two countries also signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to enhance defence-industry collaboration — focusing on technology transfer, joint research, defence manufacturing and expert/engineer exchanges.
Strategic Significance
Given the rising submarine activity and undersea challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, this pact underscores mutual commitment to operational readiness and interoperability in maritime security. The agreement also supports India’s “Act East” policy and aligns with Vietnam’s evolving role in regional maritime strategy.
Operational & Industrial Implications
From an operational standpoint, the agreement means that in a submarine distress scenario, India and Vietnam can call on each other for prompt assistance — potentially saving lives and safeguarding assets. On the industrial front, the LoI opens doors for joint ventures, defence manufacturing cooperation and technological collaboration between the two nations’ defence sectors.
Next Steps & Institutional Mechanism
The 15th Defence Policy Dialogue serves as a key institutional platform for India-Vietnam defence partnership and the next (16th) edition will be held in India in 2026. Both sides also decided to deepen cooperation in hydrography, training, artificial intelligence (AI), cyber-security, ship-yard upgrades and exchange of experts.
Why This News Is Important
For Defence & Security Aspirants
For students preparing for defence exams or positions in agencies such as the armed forces, border security, and related government roles, this news is highly relevant. It signals India’s proactive efforts to enhance its submarine rescue capacity and strengthen bilateral maritime partnerships — an area of increasing strategic importance given the naval dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.
For Civil Service, Banking & Railways Exams
In civil services, banking and railways exams, questions often touch upon India’s foreign policy, defence cooperation, regional security architecture and submarine technology. This agreement between India and Vietnam provides a current-affairs example of how India engages with regional partners to safeguard maritime interests and build defence-industry capacity.
For General Awareness & Analytical Ability
Understanding this pact enables candidates to appreciate the multi-dimensional nature of defence diplomacy: it is not just about armaments, but about rescue and humanitarian dimensions, technology cooperation, joint training and regional strategic alignment. This can help in essay writing, interview discussions and analytical questions where maritime security, Indo-Pacific strategy and India’s external relations are relevant.
Historical Context: India–Vietnam Defence Relations & Submarine Rescue Cooperation
India and Vietnam share a long-standing partnership that has grown significantly since the early 2000s. In 2000, India recognised Vietnam as a key strategic partner under its “Look East” policy (now “Act East”) and has since deepened ties across trade, defence and maritime domains.
On the defence front, India has provided submarine-training support to Vietnam and engaged in maritime cooperation in the South China Sea region. The agreement signed in November 2025 builds upon this foundation and extends it into the specific domain of submarine search and rescue — a niche but critical field given the technical complexity and risk profile of under-sea operations. The pact also reflects the changing nature of naval cooperation — from conventional exercises to specialised rescue support and industry collaboration. In recent years, India has similarly signed mutual submarine rescue agreements with other partners, illustrating a trend in maritime security cooperation.
This background underscores how strategic partnerships evolve from training/visits to formal operational mechanisms like the MoA now signed with Vietnam.
Key Takeaways from India-Vietnam Submarine Rescue Pact
| S. No. | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1 | India and Vietnam signed a MoA for mutual submarine search, rescue support & cooperation during the 15th India-Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue in Hanoi on 10 Nov 2025. |
| 2 | The agreement includes deployment of personnel, equipment, technical expertise, shared protocols and joint training for submarine rescue operations. |
| 3 | A Letter of Intent (LoI) was also signed to enhance defence-industry collaboration: technology transfer, joint research, procurement, expert exchanges. |
| 4 | The pact advances India’s “Act East” policy and supports Vietnam’s role in the Indo-Pacific maritime architecture, deepening bilateral defence ties. |
| 5 | The institutional platform — the India-Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue — will hold its 16th edition in 2026 in India, and both sides agreed to expand cooperation in cyber-security, hydrography, AI and ship-yard upgrades. |
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the India–Vietnam submarine rescue agreement about?
The agreement is a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed between India and Vietnam for mutual support in submarine search and rescue operations. It allows both navies to assist each other in emergencies involving submarines through shared expertise, training, and coordination.
2. When and where was the agreement signed?
It was signed on 10 November 2025 in Hanoi, Vietnam, during the 15th India–Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue.
3. Who represented India and Vietnam in the signing ceremony?
The MoA was signed by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh from India and Sr Lt Gen Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defence, from Vietnam.
4. What is the main objective of this defence partnership?
The main goal is to improve maritime security and undersea rescue readiness in the Indo-Pacific region while also enhancing technological and industrial cooperation in the defence sector.
5. How does this agreement support India’s foreign policy?
The pact aligns with India’s “Act East” policy, which aims to strengthen diplomatic, strategic, and economic relations with Southeast Asian countries.
6. What other agreements were signed alongside this MoA?
A Letter of Intent (LoI) was signed to promote defence industry collaboration, including technology transfer, research, and manufacturing cooperation.
7. How is this relevant for government exam aspirants?
For defence, UPSC, SSC, and current affairs-based exams, this topic is important under the subjects of India’s foreign relations, international defence cooperation, and maritime security.
8. What are India’s other submarine rescue partnerships?
India has similar submarine rescue cooperation with Singapore, Australia, and South Korea, reflecting a growing network of undersea operational collaboration in the Indo-Pacific.
9. What is the India–Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue?
It is an annual high-level meeting between the defence ministries of India and Vietnam to discuss strategic, security, and industrial defence cooperation.
10. When will the next Defence Policy Dialogue be held?
The 16th India–Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue is scheduled to be held in 2026 in India.
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