Southeast Asia boost defense ties but avoids firm alliances

Despite Vietnam's public disputes with China, particularly in the maritime domain, Hanoi remains cautious, seeking to preserve strategic autonomy and avoid formal alignment, Kei Koga, associate professor at the Public Policy and Global Affairs Programme at NTU, told DW. "India's BrahMos deal with Vietnam fits this pattern, as it strengthens Vietnam's own deterrence and coastal defense capacity without making Vietnam part of an anti-China alliance,” he added.

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