French President Emmanuel Macron is embarking on a strategic visit to Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore, aiming to present France and the European Union as dependable partners offering transparent cooperation.
French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to Southeast Asia to promote France and the European Union as reliable partners offering cooperation without hidden agendas, at a time when global powers like the U.S. and China are increasingly using aggressive tactics to expand their influence, officials said.
Macron is scheduled to arrive in Hanoi on Sunday, marking the first visit by a French president to Vietnam in nearly a decade. He will then continue to Indonesia and conclude his trip in Singapore, where he is expected to deliver a keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s leading security forum.
During the trip, Macron will position France and Europe as champions of international cooperation and rules-based trade. This contrasts with the more "coercive" or "predatory" strategies used by others, including the U.S. under President Donald Trump and China.
“We advocate for rules in international trade, not the law of the jungle where only the strongest survive,” a French presidential adviser said on Wednesday.
Vietnam, which relies heavily on exports, was previously caught off guard by tariff threats from both the U.S. and France. It is now looking to diversify its supply chains and trading partners to reduce its dependence on China.
According to the Élysée Palace, dozens of agreements are being prepared and may be signed during the three-state visit.
Macron’s visit follows recent trips to the region by leaders from China, Japan, and other European nations—reflecting Southeast Asia’s growing strategic relevance amid ongoing global supply chain disruptions and trade uncertainty.
In addition to economic and security discussions, Macron will use his speech to Indonesian students and his remarks at the Singapore forum to clarify Europe’s positions on global conflicts. He aims to counter perceptions of double standards, particularly on Gaza, and to frame the war in Ukraine as a global issue—not merely a European one.
When asked if Indonesia—which has purchased French-made Rafale fighter jets—needed reassurance following the downing of a similar aircraft by Pakistan during an India-Pakistan clash, the adviser dismissed concerns, saying the trip is not about “reacting to recent news.”
A bus operated by Kern Transit overturned on Monday morning after hitting railway tracks alongside Sierra Highway in Lancaster, California. Approximat...
Scientists have sequenced the full genome of a man buried in pharaonic Egypt over 4,500 years ago, revealing that about 20% of his ancestry came from ...
A federal judge has halted President Donald Trump’s controversial asylum ban at the US-Mexico border, ruling that the move oversteps his executive p...
Vietnam is set to confirm the purchase of 50 Boeing planes worth $8 billion, alongside agreements to import $2.9 billion in US agricultural products, ...
Conservative Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperea, who submitted the motion, believes the vote is likely to fail but says it sends a powerful symbolic messag...
A bus operated by Kern Transit overturned on Monday morning after hitting railway tracks alongside Sierra Highway in Lancaster, California. Approximately 20 people, including an eight-year-old boy, were reported injured in the accident, according to emergency services.
Scientists have sequenced the full genome of a man buried in pharaonic Egypt over 4,500 years ago, revealing that about 20% of his ancestry came from Mesopotamia, in a rare discovery linking the two early civilisations.
A federal judge has halted President Donald Trump’s controversial asylum ban at the US-Mexico border, ruling that the move oversteps his executive powers. The decision marks a major legal setback for Trump’s immigration policies and upholds protections for migrants seeking refuge.
Vietnam is set to confirm the purchase of 50 Boeing planes worth $8 billion, alongside agreements to import $2.9 billion in US agricultural products, as part of a wider trade deal. The announcement follows high-level talks between US and Vietnamese officials, signalling strengthened economic ties be
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s Tokara Islands on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued but residents advised to remain vigilant.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
The European Commission is set to propose allowing carbon credits from other countries to count towards the EU’s 2040 climate target, according to a leaked internal document.
Severe rain in Venezuela has caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, sweeping away homes and collapsing a highway bridge, with five states affected and no casualties reported so far.
A tragic ferry accident off the coast of Bali has left four dead and dozens missing, with rough seas complicating rescue efforts.
The Pentagon says U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites have degraded Tehran’s programme by as much as two years, following attacks last month that used heavy bunker-buster bombs.
A CIA review has identified procedural flaws in a 2016 assessment that Russia sought to help Donald Trump win the U.S. presidency, but it did not challenge the core conclusion that President Vladimir Putin directed the influence campaign.
Scientists have sequenced the full genome of a man buried in pharaonic Egypt over 4,500 years ago, revealing that about 20% of his ancestry came from Mesopotamia, in a rare discovery linking the two early civilisations.
A federal judge has halted President Donald Trump’s controversial asylum ban at the US-Mexico border, ruling that the move oversteps his executive powers. The decision marks a major legal setback for Trump’s immigration policies and upholds protections for migrants seeking refuge.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment