During his state visit to Vietnam, Russian leader Vladimir Putin aims to strengthen ties with his long-time partner. Prior to his arrival in the country, Mr. Putin had visited North Korea where he signed an agreement with leader Kim Jong Un that pledges mutual aid in the event of war. This agreement could potentially be the strongest connection between Russia and North Korea since the end of the Cold War.
Upon his arrival in Hanoi, Mr. Putin was greeted by dignitaries. During his time in the city, he is expected to meet with Vietnam’s most powerful politician, Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, as well as the new President To Lam and other officials. This isn’t Mr. Putin’s first visit to Vietnam, as his last visit was in 2017. Diplomatic relations between Russia and Vietnam date back to 1950, with a treaty signed 30 years ago establishing “friendly relations” between the two nations.
Despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Vietnam has chosen to remain neutral on the issue. However, the U.S. embassy in Vietnam criticized Mr. Putin’s visit, stating that no country should give him a platform to promote his war of aggression and normalize his atrocities. In 2023, Vietnam hosted both Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, the leader of rival China.
Soviet influence is still visible in Vietnamese cities like Hanoi, where many Communist Party leaders studied in Soviet universities. Despite this influence, Russia’s relationship with North Korea remains strong due to their shared history and ideology.
In conclusion, Mr. Putin’s state visit to Vietnam marks an opportunity for both countries to strengthen their diplomatic ties and continue their long-standing partnership. Despite recent tensions between Russia and other countries such as Ukraine and China, Vietnam remains committed to maintaining neutrality and promoting peaceful resolutions to conflicts in the region.
