Reports claim that Vietnam has purchased BrahMos missile from India, following up on earlier talks. New Delhi: India Friday termed as 'incorrect', reports of it supplying BrahMos anti-ship cruise missiles to Vietnam even as the Southeast Asian country said the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations has been growing in many fields including security and defense.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar dismissed the claims adding that Vietnam's Foreign Ministry has already rejected the report.
However, a clear denial of the report by Vietnam's foreign ministry is yet to emerge in the public domain.
When asked about the report, a spokesperson in the Vietnam foreign ministry said the Vietnam India comprehensive strategic partnership has been actively developing in many fields including economics, trade, investment, culture, education, security and defense.
The spokesperson said that procurement of defense equipment by Vietnam is consistent with the policy of peace and self-defense and is the normal practice in the national defense.'
In February, while replying to a question in Lok Sabha on whether the government has any plans to sell Akash and BrahMos missiles to Vietnam, Minister of State for Defense Subhash Bhamre had said that India has held talks with the Southeast Asian country on the issue.
Vietnam, which is involved in a territorial dispute with China, is keen to acquire the supersonic missiles that can be fired on land, water and under water. The defense ministry was unavailable for comment.
The Brahmos missile system is jointly developed by India and Russia.
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