K9 Vajra Phase 3: India Bolsters Border Firepower Against China With South Korea
India and South Korea are deepening ties in ways that could reshape the Indo-Pacific balance of power. From shared democratic values to expanding defense cooperation, the two countries are building what leaders describe as a “new decade” of strategic partnership. Joint projects in artillery, shipbuilding and missile systems — alongside growing technology transfer — are strengthening both nations’ military capabilities. But why is China watching this relationship so closely? As middle powers step up cooperation across the region, could this signal the emergence of a new defense network outside of the traditional alliances? In this episode, we examine the drivers behind India–South Korea ties, their military implications and what this partnership could mean for the security of Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific. Host/Senior Producer: Yin Khvat Research Assistant: Ryan Pham Our guests: Shen Ming-shih - Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR) Research Fellow Guermantes Lailari - Jewish Policy Center Senior Non-Resident Fellow
