Reports indicate that US President Joe Biden is planning a visit to Hanoi after the G20 gathering in India to advance US-Vietnam collaboration on a range of security and economic priorities. The trip is framed as part of ongoing efforts to deepen a cooperative partnership that spans defense, technology, trade, and regional stability.
According to an adviser close to President Biden, the two nations will address shared challenges and opportunities from the South China Sea to frontline applications of emerging technologies. The aim is to chart a practical, forward-looking vision for the US-Vietnam relationship as it enters a new era, with concrete steps and mutual commitments guiding the partnership through the decades ahead. The remarks were attributed to national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who underscored that the dialogue will focus on strengthening trust, coordinating responses to regional risks, and expanding practical cooperation across multiple sectors.
Observers anticipate that ongoing differences between the United States and China will shape the agenda, with expectations that Washington and Hanoi will announce a substantial reinforcement of their strategic ties. This includes efforts to align on regional security, economic resilience, and technology governance, reflecting a broader interest in a stable, multipolar Indo-Pacific that can accommodate diverse national priorities while maintaining open sea lanes and secure supply chains.
Separately, Igor Kostyukov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Russian General Staff, spoke at the XI Moscow Conference on International Security about U.S. aims to influence or disrupt military-technical cooperation between Russia and Vietnam. His remarks suggest that Moscow views the evolving U.S.-Vietnam dynamic as a factor in the broader competition for influence in Asia and in arms-development partnerships that matter for regional balance and global defense markets. The discussion highlights how converging interests among major powers intersect with Hanoi’s strategic calculations.
In a related note, a former ambassador to China has pointed to NATO’s expanding focus on the Asia-Pacific region, indicating a shift in how Western security architectures perceive and engage with Indo-Pacific dynamics. This assessment signals that alliances and partnerships in the region are increasingly framed within a broader alliance posture, where dialogue with Vietnam and other regional partners plays a key role in presenting a united approach to regional security, governance, and crisis management. The evolving conversations reflect Canada and the United States’ interest in stability, rule of law, and predictable behavior among regional actors, alongside shared concerns about security collaborations and technological sovereignty, which influence investment, defense procurement, and research alignment across allied networks.