European leaders are planning high-level visits to Vietnam in the coming months as part of a concerted effort to deepen ties with the Southeast Asian nation amid rising trade tensions with the United States.
The planned visits come at a time when uncertainties over U.S. trade policies could impact exports to America, prompting European nations to seek alternative economic partnerships.
Strengthening Ties in a Shifting Global Landscape
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron are among the leaders expected to visit Vietnam, with discussions reportedly focusing on expanding trade, investment, and cooperation in key sectors. Von der Leyen recently addressed ASEAN officials in Hanoi via video message, emphasizing the need to create new opportunities for trade and investment with trusted partners as global trade dynamics shift. While details of the visits have yet to be finalized, EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic may travel to Vietnam as early as April.
Responding to U.S. Trade Risks
The planned European outreach coincides with growing concerns that a potential imposition of tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump could weaken bilateral relations between the United States and Vietnam. Former U.S. President Joe Biden had earlier pushed for a stronger U.S. influence in Vietnam, viewing the country as a strategic partner in efforts to counterbalance China’s rising power. However, the prospect of reciprocal tariffs, aimed at addressing Vietnam’s significant trade surplus with the United States, has introduced an element of uncertainty. As a result, European nations are seizing the opportunity to strengthen their economic and political engagement with Hanoi.
Expanding economic and infrastructural cooperation
In 2024, the EU imported goods worth $52 billion from Vietnam, making it the nation’s third-largest export market. Analysts suggest that any reduction in U.S. imports due to tariff measures could open additional opportunities for European companies. This shift may also support increased investments in Vietnam, particularly as the country looks to diversify its military supplies and enhance public spending on infrastructure. Among major projects is an ambitious railway development plan, with European firms competing for contracts that could further cement economic ties.
A broader development Agenda
Beyond trade and infrastructure, Europe is positioning itself to take on a larger role in Vietnam’s development policy. Following a freeze in U.S. foreign aid under President Trump, European countries are exploring new avenues for cooperation. For instance, Belgium is establishing a fund aimed at revitalizing areas affected by the historical use of agent orange during the Vietnam War, with plans to transform reclaimed land into profitable industrial zones.
As global trade patterns continue to evolve, the forthcoming visits by European leaders to Vietnam underscore a strategic effort to build long-term partnerships that could mitigate risks from U.S. policy shifts while fostering sustainable economic growth in the region.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Thursday that Britain "fiercely" protects free speech, but when it was used to incite real harm to children and vu...
Iran, China and Russia in a joint letter addressed to the UN Secretary General and the president of the Security Council have rejected the move by the...
Canada's government is sending more asylum-seekers hoping to file claims in Canada back to the U.S. under a bilateral pact, even as the U.S. says it m...
Germany's parliament approved on Thursday the nation's first annual budget since sweeping reforms to loosen fiscal rules were passed earlier this year...
Ukrainian troops and engineers will train their Polish counterparts in a joint group on countering drones, Ukraine's defence minister Denys Shmyhal sa...
European authorities have intercepted more than 2,400 shipping containers at Greece’s port of Piraeus in the European Union’s largest-ever container seizure, valued at around €250 million ($294m).
Muhammad Abu Dakha, a 31-year-old Palestinian from Gaza, documented his odyssey to Europe in videos, photographs and audio recordings. He later shared the material with Reuters, which also interviewed him, his travelling companions, and relatives back in Gaza.
Russia warned on Monday that it would retaliate against any European state attempting to seize its assets, following reports that the European Union is considering channelling frozen Russian funds to support Ukraine.
Thirty years after launching its ambitious Euro-Mediterranean policy, Europe has lost influence in a region that should matter most to it. Today, in the Mediterranean, the European Union no longer sets the rules of the game, it endures them.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
At least eight people have died and more than 90 others were injured following a catastrophic gas tanker explosion on a major highway in Mexico City’s Iztapalapa district on Wednesday, authorities confirmed.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Thursday that Britain "fiercely" protects free speech, but when it was used to incite real harm to children and vulnerable people there was a limit.
Canada's government is sending more asylum-seekers hoping to file claims in Canada back to the U.S. under a bilateral pact, even as the U.S. says it may deport them to third countries.
Ukrainian troops and engineers will train their Polish counterparts in a joint group on countering drones, Ukraine's defence minister Denys Shmyhal said on Thursday, a week after Russian drones flew into Poland.
The Ambassador of Afghanistan to Russia, Ghulam Hassan, has met with Zamir Kabulov, Moscow’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, to discuss deepening ties and regional engagement, the Afghan embassy in Moscow said on Wednesday.
FBI chief Kash Patel told the U.S. Senate on Tuesday there was “no credible information” that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked women or underage girls to anyone but himself, as he defended the bureau’s decision to close its review.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment