Description: French President Emmanuel Macron launched his Asia tour in Vietnam, where he met with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and General Secretary To Lam. The officials agreed up to 14 partnership deals which were mostly regarding sectors such as trade, energy, innovation, and defense. The reports from the meeting suggested that agreements amounting to almost $10 billion were discussed where France, as Europe’s strategic pioneer, would facilitate fair trade conditions and support Vietnam in advancing regional security stability. France and Vietnam signed comprehensive cooperation agreements within the healthcare sector, with France agreeing to supply the Asian country with Sanofi vaccines, as well as agreements between Airbus and the VietJet airliners for the supply of more than 20 airplanes. Macron’s visit to Vietnam arrives in times of economic and geopolitical instability which is threatened by the US isolationist and assertive foreign policies. Macron is set to visit Indonesia and Singapore next as part of his Asia geostrategic tour.
Impact: Macron continues to spearhead Europe’s diplomatic campaign towards trade and defense partnerships as the rift with the US continues to widen over several areas of dispute. After being pitched by China and Japan, Vietnam now has European reassurances of support towards developing its rapidly progressive economy and establishing a widespread portfolio of multilateral relations ensuring security stability and economic longevity. The trend of geopolitical reproachment continues to stimulate the development of multipolar strategic relationships which was caused by Trump’s tariffs. Europe, despite being engaged in trade negotiations with the US, would continue to develop partnerships with progressive state economies such as Vietnam initiating the process of gaining economic and defensive independence from the US. Vietnam is set to diversify its trade and economic portfolio as well as secure defensive reassurances, facing continuous territorial and sovereignty threats from China.