On Sunday, September 10, US President Joe Biden plans to arrive in Vietnam with the goal of enhancing cooperation between the two nations, especially in response to the increasing regional ambitions of China.Biden’s visit comes after attending the G20 summit in New Delhi. During his visit, he intends to meet with the leader of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong. It is expected that they will formally establish a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” which signifies the highest level of diplomatic relations with Hanoi.
The primary objective of this brief visit aligns with Biden’s discussions at the G20 summit, which is to consolidate support against China’s growing influence in the region. For Vietnam, this upgrade in diplomatic ties holds significant importance, considering that it currently maintains top-level relationships with only Russia, India, South Korea, and China. While Vietnam aims to maintain a neutral stance in the ongoing rivalry between the United States and China, it shares America’s concerns regarding China’s assertiveness in the contested South China Sea.
Arms from Russia
However, just ahead of Biden’s visit, there have been reports suggesting that Vietnam was secretly planning to purchase arms from Russia, potentially in violation of US sanctions. The New York Times cited a Vietnamese finance ministry document detailing plans to fund arms acquisitions from Russia through a joint oil and gas venture in Siberia. As of now, there has been no official response from the Vietnamese government regarding these reports.
It’s worth noting that the United States and Vietnam have been fostering increasingly close trade relations, with Washington viewing Hanoi as a crucial partner as it seeks to diversify its sources beyond China, especially after recent disruptions in global supply chains.
In Hanoi on Sunday, the visit will encompass a welcoming ceremony, speeches by both leaders, and a press conference by President Biden. Additionally, during his time in Vietnam, President Biden awarded the highest US military honor to a helicopter pilot who bravely rescued four soldiers during the Vietnam War.