HANOI: US President Joe Biden lauded closer relations with Vietnam on Sunday as the two nations agreed to deepen their relations and cooperation on strategic supplies. The move is seen as a response to the increasing competition and influence of China in the region.
Joe Biden arrived in Vietnam on Sunday after participating in the G20 summit in New Delhi. His visit aimed to bolster support against China’s growing diplomatic influence while securing vital resources from friendly nations.
During his meeting with Nguyen Phu Trong, the leader of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party, the two leaders signed a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” marking the highest level of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
“This can be the beginning of an even greater era of cooperation,” Biden stated during the meeting. He emphasized the critical partnership between Vietnam and the United States, especially at a crucial moment. The agreement signifies the United States’ equal standing with China, Russia, India, and South Korea in Vietnam’s diplomatic hierarchy.
Talks Between US and Vietnam Leaders
Jon Finer, the US deputy national security advisor, explained that talks would also encompass rare earth minerals, crucial for high-tech devices like smartphones and electric car batteries. Vietnam, holding the world’s second-largest reserves of rare earths after China, is pivotal as the US seeks to diversify its supply chain and reduce reliance on China following global supply chain disruptions.
Last month, Biden initiated measures to restrict US investment in Chinese technology, particularly in sensitive sectors such as semiconductors, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence.
Although Vietnam maintains a neutral stance between the US and China, it shares concerns about China’s assertiveness in the contested South China Sea.
However, just before Biden’s visit, The New York Times reported that Vietnam was covertly planning to buy arms from Russia, a move that could defy US sanctions. The report referred to a Vietnamese finance ministry document outlining plans to fund arms purchases from Russia through a joint oil and gas project in Siberia.
While Washington acknowledged Vietnam’s long-standing military relationship with Russia, Finer pointed out that there is “increasing discomfort” on Vietnam’s part concerning that relationship. The new partnership aims to allow Vietnam to diversify its sources by incorporating the United States and its allies.
Biden also raised human rights concerns in his meeting with Trong, promising to maintain an open dialogue on the matter. Vietnam has been criticized for its human rights record, including intimidation, harassment, unfair trials, and reports of police torture.
