On the morning of 26/2, the Ministry of National Defense convened a preparatory meeting for the third Vietnam International Defense Expo, scheduled for 2026. Major General Phan Thi Hoai Van, Deputy Head of the General Department of Defense Industry, stated that the project for the third expo is themed "Peace, Friendship, Cooperation for Development."

The General Department envisions this expo as a large-scale event, displaying various weapons and technical equipment. It will combine product exhibitions, workshops, seminars, drills, field demonstrations, and business networking sessions.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang, Deputy Minister of National Defense, acknowledged the General Department's and related units' responsible preparation efforts. He urged the General Department to coordinate closely and thoroughly review the entire project, ensuring it is appropriate, cohesive, practical, and includes specific, detailed plans and timelines for each stage.

According to Senior Lieutenant General Thang, the expo represents a significant defense diplomacy event. It also affirms the prestige, organizational capacity, and integration stature of the Vietnam People's Army. He stated, "The success of the expo contributes to spreading the message of a peace-loving Vietnam, ready for cooperation, transparent in defense policy, and demonstrating the development level of the nation's defense industry."

Special forces soldiers from Brigade 113 (Special Forces Corps) during training. Photo: Giang Huy.

General Thang emphasized that this edition must meet higher standards, feature a more professional scale, and foster deeper cooperation, reflecting the nation's rising international standing. Preparation must begin early and be comprehensive across all aspects: content, protocol, external relations, media, logistics, and technical support.

The Deputy Minister stressed that ensuring absolute safety for personnel, vehicles, equipment, and all activities throughout the expo is paramount.

The Vietnam International Defense Expo has been held twice, in 2022 and 2024, with expanding scales. Previous expos featured indoor product and model displays alongside real products in outdoor areas, including demonstrations of weapons and technical equipment. Exhibited weapons and technical equipment from defense industry enterprises covered three fields: Navy, Air Force, and Army, complemented by displays of equipment currently in service with the military.

At the late 2024 Defense Expo, nearly 12,000 officers and soldiers from various agencies and units participated, alongside 20 aircraft, approximately 3,000 pieces of equipment, and 118 military dogs. By 12:00 on 22/12, the expo had welcomed over 260,000 visitors. The opening ceremony alone saw participation from over 1,000 delegates, 242 domestic and international businesses, and 66 international delegations. Military representatives and businesses from many countries engaged in specialized workshops over four days, featuring 52 presentations.

The General Department of Defense Industry reported that through the expo, it secured 11 contracts valued at 278,3 million USD. Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group secured five contracts worth 8 million USD. Additionally, 17 strategic cooperation agreements were signed between Vietnam's defense industry and companies from countries with developed defense industries: the US, India, France, and Belgium.