Macron Begins Southeast Asia Tour with Visit to Vietnam
The French President seeks to enhance EU ties in a region marked by geopolitical tensions.
French President Emmanuel Macron commenced a weeklong tour of Southeast Asia with a visit to Vietnam, a strategic step aimed at strengthening the European Union’s foothold in a region increasingly caught in the crosshairs of the US-China rivalry.
Meeting with Vietnam’s top leader, To Lam, on Monday, Macron emphasized France’s role as a reliable partner amid the insecurities arising from escalating trade tensions and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
"With France, you have a familiar, safe, and reliable friend (...) and in the period we are living in, this alone has great value," Macron stated during the meeting.
This visit marks the first by a French president to Vietnam in almost a decade.
Following Vietnam, Macron is set to visit Indonesia, where he will engage with Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and participate in discussions between Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
He will also travel to Singapore, becoming the first European leader to deliver the keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a prominent security forum in the region.
In October 2024, France and Vietnam elevated their partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, a status shared only with a few other nations, including the US, Russia, and China.
France, historically a colonial presence in Vietnam, is now positioned as the only European country with this level of diplomatic engagement.
Vietnam has established a reputation for adeptly diversifying its economic and diplomatic ties, with experts noting the country’s effectiveness in leveraging relationships across various global powers, including its growing ties with France.
In 2024, Vietnam emerged as the EU's 17th largest trading partner, with bilateral goods trade increasing by 13%, amounting to €67 billion, according to figures from the European Commission.
During Macron's visit, significant economic agreements were signed, including a substantial deal for Vietnamese low-cost airline VietJet to procure 20 aircraft from Airbus.
This arrangement occurred amidst ongoing pressures from the United States, which has urged Vietnam to prioritize American companies over European counterparts.
In April, the US announced a 46% tariff on Vietnamese goods, although the implementation has been delayed until July.
Concurrently, Vietnam is reported to be increasing its purchases of US goods, with discussions underway for Vietnam Airlines to buy over 200 aircraft from Boeing.
Yet European officials have expressed concerns that prioritizing US deals might strain Vietnam’s relationship with the EU.
Security concerns are also expected to be central to the discussions between Macron and Vietnamese leaders.
Vietnam seeks to diversify its military partnerships and has previously relied heavily on Russian arms, which accounted for up to 90% of its military acquisitions until 2022. This shift comes amid rising tensions in Southeast Asia, where countries are exploring new defense collaborations beyond traditional powers like the US and Russia, with nations such as France and Germany increasingly active in regional defense diplomacy.
France maintains military operations in the Indo-Pacific, utilizing its overseas territories and conducting exercises to ensure freedom of navigation in contested waters.
Macron noted that the partnership with Vietnam includes enhanced defense cooperation, alongside agreements related to armaments, cybersecurity, and anti-terrorism efforts.
However, human rights issues have surfaced as a contentious point in diplomatic discussions.
Leading up to Macron's visit, several human rights organizations urged him to address Vietnam's deteriorating human rights record, which has reportedly worsened since the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement was enacted in 2021. Critics have pointed out that the Vietnamese government's crackdown on dissent contradicts its commitments to France and the EU.
As regional dynamics continue to evolve, Vietnam's partnerships reflect the complexities of engaging with global powers amidst varying expectations and geopolitical interests.
Meeting with Vietnam’s top leader, To Lam, on Monday, Macron emphasized France’s role as a reliable partner amid the insecurities arising from escalating trade tensions and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
"With France, you have a familiar, safe, and reliable friend (...) and in the period we are living in, this alone has great value," Macron stated during the meeting.
This visit marks the first by a French president to Vietnam in almost a decade.
Following Vietnam, Macron is set to visit Indonesia, where he will engage with Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and participate in discussions between Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
He will also travel to Singapore, becoming the first European leader to deliver the keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a prominent security forum in the region.
In October 2024, France and Vietnam elevated their partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, a status shared only with a few other nations, including the US, Russia, and China.
France, historically a colonial presence in Vietnam, is now positioned as the only European country with this level of diplomatic engagement.
Vietnam has established a reputation for adeptly diversifying its economic and diplomatic ties, with experts noting the country’s effectiveness in leveraging relationships across various global powers, including its growing ties with France.
In 2024, Vietnam emerged as the EU's 17th largest trading partner, with bilateral goods trade increasing by 13%, amounting to €67 billion, according to figures from the European Commission.
During Macron's visit, significant economic agreements were signed, including a substantial deal for Vietnamese low-cost airline VietJet to procure 20 aircraft from Airbus.
This arrangement occurred amidst ongoing pressures from the United States, which has urged Vietnam to prioritize American companies over European counterparts.
In April, the US announced a 46% tariff on Vietnamese goods, although the implementation has been delayed until July.
Concurrently, Vietnam is reported to be increasing its purchases of US goods, with discussions underway for Vietnam Airlines to buy over 200 aircraft from Boeing.
Yet European officials have expressed concerns that prioritizing US deals might strain Vietnam’s relationship with the EU.
Security concerns are also expected to be central to the discussions between Macron and Vietnamese leaders.
Vietnam seeks to diversify its military partnerships and has previously relied heavily on Russian arms, which accounted for up to 90% of its military acquisitions until 2022. This shift comes amid rising tensions in Southeast Asia, where countries are exploring new defense collaborations beyond traditional powers like the US and Russia, with nations such as France and Germany increasingly active in regional defense diplomacy.
France maintains military operations in the Indo-Pacific, utilizing its overseas territories and conducting exercises to ensure freedom of navigation in contested waters.
Macron noted that the partnership with Vietnam includes enhanced defense cooperation, alongside agreements related to armaments, cybersecurity, and anti-terrorism efforts.
However, human rights issues have surfaced as a contentious point in diplomatic discussions.
Leading up to Macron's visit, several human rights organizations urged him to address Vietnam's deteriorating human rights record, which has reportedly worsened since the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement was enacted in 2021. Critics have pointed out that the Vietnamese government's crackdown on dissent contradicts its commitments to France and the EU.
As regional dynamics continue to evolve, Vietnam's partnerships reflect the complexities of engaging with global powers amidst varying expectations and geopolitical interests.
