Why it is in the news
The 19th India–Vietnam Joint Commission Meeting was held in New Delhi on 14 September 2026, co-chaired by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Vietnam's Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung. It coincided with India's hosting of the BRICS summit, which Vietnam attended as a partner country, and was the first Commission meeting since the two countries upgraded their ties in May 2026.
The exam angle
Thesis: Vietnam is the anchor of India's Act East policy — strategic convergence without a formal alliance.