Vietnam-US ties enter new phase after Biden visit
The United States and Vietnam signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership" during US President Joe Biden's 24-hour visit to the Southeast Asian country.
Washington and Hanoi — former adversaries — only resumed diplomatic relations in 1995, two decades after the end of the Vietnam War.
Since then, bilateral trade has grown to the tune of $138 billion (€129 billion) a year.
Diplomatic milestone
For Vietnam, the upgraded relationship is significant. The US will be added to a small but illustrious list of strategic partners that also includes China, India, Russia and South Korea.
The US is Vietnam's most important trading partner after China — and the United States is Vietnam's largest export market.
Biden's visit prompted fresh partnerships and business deals, which were welcomed in Vietnam, said Hanh Nguyen, a research fellow at the Yokosuka Council on Asia Pacific Studies (YCAPS).
"The Communist Party in Vietnam wants to turbocharge the economy with technology investments, such as in the semiconductor industry, to capitalize on concerns over Taiwan tensions," he told DW. "Therefore, strategic cooperation might help Vietnam to maintain its access to US consumer markets."
Countering China's growing assertiveness
Many see Washington's strengthening ties with Hanoi as part of a US campaign to counter Chinese influence.
However, Biden said on Sunday that the agreement with Vietnam was not aimed at containing China — but rather to create stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
The US is principally focused on deepening ties with other members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD) or Quad, which also includes Australia, India and Japan, said Ali Wyne, a senior analyst at Eurasia Group, a geopolitical consultancy in New York.
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