Tech Desk: India’s burgeoning defence exports are no longer just about generating revenue; they are now a potent tool of statecraft, strategically extending New Delhi’s geopolitical influence. Recent BrahMos missile agreements, particularly with nations like the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia in the South China Sea region, underscore a sophisticated foreign policy play. These deals not only provide a credible deterrent against regional rivals but also forge long-term strategic relationships through crucial training, maintenance, and operational planning.

With defence exports surging to ₹38,424 crore in 2025-26, a remarkable 63% jump in a single year, India is transitioning from selling individual components to exporting integrated military systems. Major customers like Armenia, acquiring Akash missile systems and Pinaka rocket launchers, exemplify this shift. These comprehensive packages create enduring dependencies, reducing costs for India’s own forces and bolstering indigenous manufacturing capabilities.

This strategic pivot places Indian-origin military capacity along critical maritime peripheries and in key land corridors, offering a nuanced alternative to establishing military bases. While challenges like Russian approval for joint ventures and competition from other suppliers persist, India’s trajectory is clear. The careful selection of customers reflects New Delhi’s priorities: strengthening neighbours, countering rival partnerships, and consolidating influence across the Indian Ocean.

Rather than formal alliances, India is building durable partnerships through supply chains and long-term security relationships. This model asserts strategic autonomy, signaling India’s arrival as a rising power not just by what it acquires, but by the partners it chooses to equip with clear strategic intent.