Putin Visits Hanoi to Strengthen Relations With Vietnam; Moscow Seeks New “Security Architecture” in Asia
Image Source: REUTERS
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his Vietnamese counterpart in Hanoi and signed multiple deals while also offering to supply fossil fuels, including natural gas, to the Asian country. Putin received a 21-gun salute at a military ceremony in Vietnam as a gesture of welcome and was embraced by two Communist leaders while being lavishly praised by one of them. It is seen that this visit was made to bolster Putin’s ties in Asia following the global isolation of Russia owing to its war in Ukraine. The Russian President said, that“he wanted to develop a “reliable security architecture” in the region with no room for “closed military-political blocs”.” President To Lam also added that both Russia and Vietnam would like to cooperate in defence and security without “non-traditional security challenges.”
The two leaders exchanged 11 mutual pacts and agreed to cooperate in several fields such as education, technology, science, oil and gas exploration, and clean energy. There have also been agreements to work on plans for a nuclear science and technology center in Vietnam. Putin’s meeting with To Lam follows his recent visits to North Korea and China, a move seen by analysts as a means of “breaking the international isolation.” The pact between Vietnam and Russia comes right after the pact Putin signed with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un this Wednesday, which pledged mutual military assistance in the event of need, although not as substantial. Nonetheless, the grand welcome received by the President, who currently has an outstanding arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for his activities in Ukraine, was undeniably a success in terms of public relations. The charges, however, are denied by Putin, and neither Russia nor Vietnam are members of the ICC.
As quoted by Russian media, however, Putin says, “We are firmly committed to deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam, which remains among the priorities of Russia’s foreign policy.” The exchange of the 11 memorandums of understanding and agreements in various sectors was witnessed closely by the international community. Since Putin’s last visit to Vietnam in 2017, Russia now faces several sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine, alongside an arrest warrant, which has made his travels abroad difficult. The visit to Hanoi was met with heavy criticism by the global community, who expressed fear of Russia’s growing influence in the region after the Russian President and North Korean Leader signed military agreements in Pyongyang.
Putin’s visit resulted in a sharp rebuke from the US Embassy in Vietnam, claiming that no country should give Putin a platform to promote his war of aggression and otherwise allow him to normalize his atrocities. The move was criticized by the EU, with an EU spokesperson claiming that although Hanoi had every right to form its diplomatic relations, Russia’s war in Ukraine was proof of Russia’s disrespect for international law. The move was also met negatively by the US, which had upgraded bilateral relations with Hanoi and is one of Vietnam’s major export markets. It has been reported that a top US diplomat will be sent to the country by the State Department to reassure Washington’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.
At another event, President Lam claimed that Putin continued to lead Russia, “overcoming all difficulties and challenges, at the same time contributing to the peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.” Moscow and Hanoi have had diplomatic ties since 1950, and this year marks 30 years of a treaty that established “friendly relations” between the two countries. Since 2000, Russia has accounted for 80% of Vietnam’s arms imports, a number that has since decreased owing to Vietnam’s efforts at diversification.
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