India–Vietnam Strategic Partnership in the Emerging Indo-Pacific Construct

In: India quarterly: a journal of international affairs, S. 097492842110050

Abstract

India–Vietnam strategic partnership has become consolidated but is far below its potential due to negligence of economic and other non-strategic dimensions. The emergence of the Indo-Pacific offers considerable scope and opportunity for Vietnam to expand its strategic outlook beyond its vicinity, befitting an emerging economic tiger as it encompasses a much larger region. Vietnam is far better placed to play a key role in the emerging geopolitical and geoeconomic equation if it can leverage its strengths appropriately. That will also help to further strengthen its partnership with India. For that, Hanoi needs to evolve its own Indo-Pacific vision followed by a strategy whereby it can enhance its strategic heft, which can be quite handy in dealing with China.