President Joe Biden met with Vietnamese President To Lam to strengthen relations with Vietnam and counter its ties with China and Russia. They discussed accelerating a strategic partnership agreed last year, with a focus on semiconductors, supply chains, cybersecurity, and maritime issues. Lam emphasized Vietnam’s commitment to independence, multilateralism, and diversification in foreign policy.
During his visit to the U.S., Lam met with U.S. companies like Meta, seeking investments and support to be removed from the list of non-market economies by the U.S. Lam also asked for cooperation on semiconductor supply chains. Biden’s meeting with Lam addressed economic cooperation and the cautious strategic approach Vietnam must take in its complex neighborhood.
The meeting was seen as a way for Lam to consolidate power after becoming Vietnam’s top leader. It demonstrated Vietnam’s balanced position between major powers, including recent visits to China and Russia. Vietnam has been advocating for the removal of its non-market economy label to strengthen ties with the U.S., although Biden cannot unilaterally offer concessions on this issue.
Critics argue that Vietnam’s policy commitments have not been matched by actions, and there are concerns about it being used as a manufacturing hub by Chinese firms to evade U.S. import restrictions. Overall, the meeting between Biden and Lam aimed to enhance economic cooperation, address strategic concerns, and solidify Vietnam’s position in the region amidst growing competition between major global powers.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com