10-9-2023 (HANOI) US President Joe Biden is set to arrive in Vietnam on Sunday (Sep 10) with the aim of deepening cooperation between the two nations in the face of China’s growing ambitions in the region.
Following his participation in the G20 summit in New Delhi, Biden will meet with Nguyen Phu Trong, the leader of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party, on Sunday. The visit is expected to culminate in the signing of a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” marking the highest level of diplomatic ties between Hanoi and Washington.
This visit to Vietnam aligns with Biden’s broader objectives at the G20 gathering, which include rallying support against China’s increasing influence in the region.
ET NOW Alert | US President Joe Biden leaves for Vietnam after attending G20 summit in Delhi@JoeBiden #G20India2023 #G20Bharat2023 pic.twitter.com/52G7PRQVMh
— ET NOW (@ETNOWlive) September 10, 2023
The upgrade in diplomatic ties holds significant importance for Vietnam, which currently maintains top-level relations with only Russia, India, South Korea, and China.
While Vietnam seeks to maintain a neutral stance between the United States and China, it shares concerns with the US regarding China’s assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea.
However, just prior to Biden’s visit, the New York Times reported that Vietnam has been secretly arranging to purchase arms from Russia, in violation of US sanctions. The report cited a Vietnamese finance ministry document outlining plans to finance arms acquisitions from Russia through a joint oil and gas project in Siberia.
AFP has reached out to the Vietnamese government for comment on this matter.
The United States and Vietnam, a key manufacturing hub, have been strengthening their trade ties. Washington sees Hanoi as an important partner as it seeks to diversify its supply chains and reduce dependency on China, especially after recent disruptions to global economies.
During Biden’s visit to Hanoi on Sunday, there will be a welcoming ceremony, speeches by the two leaders, and a press conference by the US President. On Tuesday, Biden awarded the highest US military honor to a helicopter pilot who rescued four soldiers during the Vietnam War.
The following day, Biden is scheduled to meet President Vo Van Thuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Ahead of the 80-year-old US President’s arrival, the central area of Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi was adorned with American and Vietnamese flags, attracting families enjoying a weekend stroll. In the city’s old quarter, a souvenir shop sold T-shirts featuring Biden’s face on the front.
Truong Thanh Duc, the 61-year-old owner of the shop, expressed optimism, stating, “I think the US is a good friend to Vietnam. With this visit of President Joe Biden, I think he will bring more business contracts and jobs to Vietnamese people.”
While in Vietnam, Biden will have to balance strategic interests with the defense of human rights. Human Rights Watch has reported cases of intimidation, harassment, unfair trials, and police torture to extract confessions against government critics in Vietnam.
Though Biden has often criticized China’s human rights record, he has remained relatively quiet on the issue of human rights in Vietnam, causing concerns among campaigners that he may not press the subject during his visit.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated prior to the trip that Biden would raise issues related to “freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and other basic human rights.”
Biden’s visit comes shortly after a US government commission on religious freedom strongly criticized Vietnam for its “egregious, ongoing, and systematic violations” in this area.
On Saturday, Nguyen Bac Truyen, a legal expert and advocate for religious freedom who was sentenced to 11 years in prison for subversion in 2018, announced on Facebook that he had been released and allowed to travel to Germany with his wife. Vietnam often releases political prisoners before visits by US presidents.
Biden’s visit to Vietnam follows the G20 summit, where leaders agreed on a joint declaration that avoided direct criticism of Moscow and any concrete pledge to phase out polluting fossil fuels, despite deep divisions on the war in Ukraine and climate change. The President’s trip to Vietnam will also include a visit to the memorial of his late friend John McCain, the former US senator who was shot down and held captive during the Vietnam War and later played a crucial role in rebuilding ties between the two countries.
