Vietnam’s President and Communist Party leader, Võ Văn Thưởng, is on a diplomatic tour this week that includes stops in Russia and France, a move analysts interpret as an effort to bolster Hanoi’s position on the South China Sea issue while advancing its economic development goals.
Starting in Moscow, Thưởng is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin before traveling to Paris to confer with French President Emmanuel Macron and participate in an International Space Summit. Observers note that by engaging two major global powers with differing stances consecutively, Vietnam is demonstrating its diplomatic agility and pursuing a multifaceted foreign policy approach.
The visits come amid heightened tensions in the South China Sea. Last month, Vietnam formally protested China’s recent infrastructure construction and land reclamation activities on features including Antelope Reef and Yagong Island—referred to by Hanoi as Ba Ba Island. China has dismissed the protests, asserting that the projects fall within its sovereign rights. Analysts suggest that during his meetings, Thưởng may seek to encourage both Moscow and Paris to adopt positions more favorable to Vietnam’s claims, despite both countries officially maintaining neutrality on the dispute.
The Moscow visit is expected to emphasize strengthening energy and defense cooperation. Key projects under discussion reportedly include the development of a nuclear power plant in central Vietnam and expanded hydrocarbon exploration in the South China Sea. Alexander Vuving, a regional security expert, highlighted that Thưởng is likely to push for intensified collaboration in high-technology sectors, including science, cybersecurity, and digital transformation, with both Russia and France. Given the ongoing Western sanctions on Russia linked to its invasion of Ukraine, there may also be talks on mitigating payment challenges affecting bilateral agreements.
Political scientist Nguyen Khac Giang, a Vietnam studies specialist, noted that Russia remains a critical partner in supporting Vietnam’s oil and gas production capabilities and nuclear ambitions. Despite Hanoi's efforts to diversify its defense partnerships away from Moscow, Giang pointed out that Russian technical support and maintenance are expected to remain indispensable for years to come. He also observed that overall trade between the two countries, currently below US$5 billion, is unlikely to see significant growth under present geopolitical conditions.
In France, cooperation is anticipated to focus on strengthening ties with Airbus, advancing Vietnamese railway and defense projects, and deepening scientific collaboration within the space sector. This visit builds upon a comprehensive strategic partnership established between Vietnam and France in 2024. Ha Hoang Hop, a political analyst based in Hanoi, acknowledged the strategic importance of the relationship but cautioned that visiting Russia prior to France amidst the war in Ukraine could generate scrutiny from Western partners, even as Vietnam maintains a position of neutrality.
Thưởng’s current trip is part of a broader diplomatic itinerary that will take him to the United States and Canada later this month, where he is expected to address the United Nations General Assembly, followed by talks in Brussels with European leaders next month. Since assuming office in 2024, Thưởng has engaged in extensive diplomatic outreach, including hosting Myanmar’s leader Min Aung Hlaing in Hanoi last weekend.
Experts view these international engagements as integral to Thưởng’s approach of “personal diplomacy,” aimed at attracting investment, technology, and strategic partnerships essential to Vietnam’s ambitious domestic agenda. This agenda includes targeting a sustained 10 percent annual economic growth rate, transitioning from a low-cost manufacturing base to a knowledge-driven economy, and achieving high-income country status by 2045.