HANOI: US President Joe Biden touched down in Vietnam on Sunday with the aim of strengthening cooperation between the two nations, as talks are expected to center around semiconductors and rare earth minerals. President Biden’s visit comes after his participation in the G20 summit in New Delhi.
In Vietnam, President Biden is set to meet with Nguyen Phu Trong, the leader of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party, to formalize a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” marking the highest level of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The primary objective of this brief visit parallels Biden’s agenda at the G20 gathering – solidifying support against the expanding diplomatic influence of Beijing while securing access to strategically vital resources from friendly nations.
Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer informed reporters that the United States and Vietnam are expected to announce new cooperation in the semiconductor sector. Additionally, they will engage in detailed discussions regarding the supply of rare earth minerals, crucial components in the manufacturing of high-tech devices such as smartphones and electric vehicle batteries.
Given the disruptions in global supply chains in recent years, stemming primarily from reliance on China, the United States views Vietnam as playing a pivotal role due to its possession of the world’s second-largest rare earth deposits after China.
Last month, President Biden imposed restrictions on US investment in sensitive areas of Chinese technology, including semiconductors, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence.
Significance of Biden’s Visit to Vietnam
For Vietnam, the elevation of diplomatic ties holds significant importance. Vietnam currently maintains top-level relationships with only Russia, India, South Korea, and China. While it strives to remain neutral between the US and China, Vietnam shares concerns about China’s increasing assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea.
However, just before President Biden’s visit, The New York Times reported that Vietnam was covertly arranging to procure arms from Russia, potentially violating US sanctions. The report cited a Vietnamese finance ministry document outlining plans to fund arms acquisitions from Russia through a joint oil and gas project in Siberia. The Vietnamese government has not commented on these allegations.
Speaking to reporters, Finer acknowledged Vietnam’s long-standing military relationship with Russia but noted that there is “increasing discomfort” on Vietnam’s part regarding this relationship. The new strategic partnership aims to help Vietnam diversify its partnerships by enabling it to source from the United States and its allies.
President Biden’s visit itinerary includes a welcome ceremony in Hanoi, speeches by both leaders, and a news conference. Notably, during his time in Vietnam, President Biden awarded the top US military honor to a helicopter pilot who rescued four soldiers during the Vietnam War.
