Vietnam to Upgrade Relationship with U.S.

“President Biden landed in Vietnam on Sunday for a state visit to celebrate a new upgrade in relations with Vietnam, despite concerns about the country’s recent authoritarian crackdown and a report that the country is secretly in pursuit of an arms deal with Russia,” the New York Times reports.

“Mr. Biden’s trip to Hanoi, which includes a news conference scheduled for Sunday, is centered on signing a ‘comprehensive strategic partnership’ with the Vietnamese, a symbolic but significant status long coveted by the United States. Since taking office, Mr. Biden has sought to enhance relations with several Southeast Asian nations because of their tactical value as a bulwark against rising Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific region.”

Financial Times: “Vietnam will upgrade its relationship with the US to its highest level, matching that with China and bringing the communist country and former foe closer into Washington’s orbit in the face of Beijing’s growing assertiveness in the region.”