Phan Cao Nhat Anh

The Indo-Pacific is increasingly marked by strategic rivalry and maritime coercion, placing pressure on the regional order and on States seeking to preserve strategic autonomy without entering formal alliances. Within this context, India and Vietnam have steadily expanded their strategic partnership, especially since the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2016. This article explores how concerns over China’s assertiveness affect India–Vietnam cooperation. How did India intensify strategic cooperation with trusted partners, such as Vietnam, particularly, after the Galwan crisis? This article argues that the bilateral relationship is understood best as a form of soft balancing, embedded within Vietnam’s broader hedging strategy.

• Prakash Panneerselvam, Phan Cao Nhat Anh |
• March-April 2026 |
• Strategic Analysis

The ‘Indo-Pacific’ region has become one of the epicentres of global issues, with the emergence of multilateral mechanisms such as the ‘Quadrilateral Security Dialogue’ (Quad). This group comprises Australia, India, Japan and the United States of America. India is considered to be the ‘weakest link’ in the Quad. However, this is only partially true. The authors of this article are of the view that, being the only country in the group that is not a formal US ally, India’s participation in Quad has been ‘different’ rather than ‘weak’ – moving from being hesitant to being more proactive, while maintaining its strategic autonomy.

• Le Thi Hang Nga, Nguyen Thi Oanh, Phan Cao Nhat Anh, Temjenmeren Ao, Ha Le Huyen |
• January-February 2025 |
• Strategic Analysis