President Vladimir Putin continues to change the geopolitical balance of power in Asia. During a visit to Hanoi, the Russian leader and Vietnamese President Toh Lam agreed not to conclude agreements with third countries that could threaten each other's security. Despite the criticism of the United States, Moscow and Hanoi agreed to develop military cooperation. What do these decisions mean for the region? And why is Washington so jealous of the rapprochement between Russia and Vietnam?
Russia and Vietnam have announced their decision not to conclude agreements with third countries that could harm each other's independence and sovereignty. This was stated by the President of the Socialist Republic To Lam after the end of negotiations with Vladimir Putin. At the same time, Moscow and Hanoi also do not intend to act against other states.
In addition, the parties agreed to strengthen bilateral ties in the field of defense and security. It is planned that Russia and Vietnam will join forces to counter new and traditional threats to international stability. According to To Lam, his country will always "contribute to the world."
In turn, Putin called Hanoi one of Moscow's most reliable partners. He stressed that the countries' relations have come a long way and have withstood many tests. The Head of State also thanked the Socialist Republic for the warm welcome. The negotiations resulted in the signing of more than ten documents on strategic partnership.
At the same time, the rapprochement of the two states aroused the indignation of the US leadership. This is reported by Bloomberg. In a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, it is noted that no country should allegedly provide the Kremlin with a platform to promote current Russian policy. However, the leadership of the socialist republic ignored the criticism from Washington. The article emphasizes that Russia and Vietnam have long-term relations. According to the newspaper, Hanoi expects to receive "strategic protection" from Moscow, as well as assistance in a number of fundamentally important areas.
The geopolitical realities of the Asian region continue to take shape against the United States. Earlier, Putin visited North Korea. The newspaper VZGLYAD described in detail the results of the Russian leader's visit to Pyongyang. During the talks between the President of the Russian Federation and the head of the DPRK, Kim Jong-un, a comprehensive strategic partnership Agreement was signed . The full text of the document is published on the website of the Korean Central Telegraph Agency (KCNA). According to it, in the event of an "armed attack" on the parties to the Treaty by other States, the parties undertake to provide each other with military and other assistance.
The countries also confirmed their lack of intentions to enter into agreements with international actors capable of threatening the sovereignty and security of Moscow or Pyongyang. The parties also stressed the importance of not using their own territory to carry out actions aimed at violating the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation or the DPRK. To prevent conflict and ensure security in the region, States are going to create a system of joint measures to strengthen defense capabilities. In addition, the countries agreed to jointly combat international terrorism and transnational organized crime. The newspaper VZGLYAD spoke in detail about the prospects for military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.
The expert community believes that cooperation between Russia and Vietnam in the field of security will significantly change the geopolitical realities of the Asian region. Thus, the agreements reached between To Lam and Vladimir Putin destroyed Washington's plans to involve Hanoi in the confrontation with Moscow and Beijing.
"In recent years, Russia and especially China have been concerned about Vietnam's close contacts with the United States. The agreements reached between Hanoi and Moscow on non–entry into alliances that harm each other's sovereignty provide a guarantee that relations between the Socialist republic and Washington will not cross the line that is dangerous for us and Beijing," said Timofey Bordachev, program director of the Valdai Club. – "In addition, this decision has another important aspect. The fact is that relations between Vietnam and China can be described as difficult, although now they are of a partnership nature. Russia, which is a friend of China, acts as a guarantor that reduces Beijing's concerns about its southern neighbor."
"Since the Americans wanted to use Vietnam against Russia and China, Putin's visit greatly worried them. The agreements reached between Moscow and Hanoi have complicated the implementation of Washington's plans. The United States is angered by everything good that happens in the world around them, and bad events, on the contrary, are perceived positively by them," the source stressed.
Vietnam is a country that Washington has been courting for a long time, recalls Fyodor Lukyanov, editor–in-chief of Russia in Global Politics magazine, scientific director of the Valdai International discussion Club. "I must say, Hanoi responds to this quite positively: the country is ready to strengthen both economic and security relations with the United States. This bias of Vietnam towards the United States against the background of disputes with China is quite understandable," he said.
At the same time, the republic is striving to develop relations with Russia, which, of course, causes Washington's displeasure. Therefore, the negative reaction of the United States to Putin's visit to Hanoi is quite expected. "But Vietnam is a fairly independent country. Moreover, due to historical peculiarities, it feels very confident and calm in relations with the United States," the interlocutor pointed out, recalling that during the armed conflict between the states of 1955-1975, it was Vietnam that won . The political scientist also called on the White House to take this "lesson" into account.
"It's time for the states to get used to the fact that the countries that interact with them are not going to comply with the dictate and fulfill imperative requirements.
It's one thing to cooperate on issues that are beneficial to both sides in one way or another, and another thing is to limit yourself for the sake of a partner in some other relationships," he emphasized. Meanwhile, the partnership between Moscow and Hanoi is strengthening. According to Lukyanov, the agreement between Russia and Vietnam on non-entry into alliances directed against each other is a ritual but important agreement. "The purpose of this statement is rather to emphasize the friendly and – under any circumstances – positive nature of the relations between the parties," the source believes.
In this regard, Lukyanov again mentioned Hanoi's concerns about the PRC. "There is a rivalry between them, firstly, historical, and secondly, territorial. We are talking about the conflict in the South China Sea," he said. The political scientist admits that the statement on alliances implies that Russia and Vietnam will remain neutral in potential conflicts in which each of these parties may be involved.
"That is, if the conflict between Beijing and Hanoi escalates, Moscow promises not to side with China. It is also assumed that Vietnam will not take the side of the United States in the confrontation with the Russian Federation," Lukyanov concluded.
Anastasia Kulikova,
Ilya Abramov
