Putin Visits Vietnam After North Korea Stop

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Vietnam on Thursday morning following a high-profile visit to North Korea. Putin was accompanied by a large delegation of senior Russian ministers and business figures.

His aircraft landed in Hanoi early Thursday, marking the final stop on his two-nation Asian tour. The visit comes after concluding a significant defence pact with North Korea, where leader Kim Jong Un promised “full support and solidarity” for Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

Ahead of his arrival, Putin praised Vietnam for its “balanced” stance on the Ukraine conflict in an opinion piece published in the Communist Party’s Nhan Dan newspaper. Vietnam has maintained a neutral position and has not condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a stance seen as pragmatic by the Kremlin.

During his visit, Putin plans to meet with top Vietnamese leaders, including Communist Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong, President To Lam, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Putin will also participate in ceremonial events, such as a wreath-laying at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

Vietnam’s strategic neutrality, often referred to as “bamboo diplomacy,” allows it to maintain balanced relations with major powers. While Russia remains a significant military supplier for Vietnam, the country has also built strong ties with the United States and the European Union.

The United States, which recently upgraded its diplomatic relations with Vietnam, has criticised Putin’s visit. A spokesperson for the U.S. embassy in Hanoi stated,

“No country should give Putin a platform to promote his war of aggression and otherwise allow him to normalise his atrocities.”

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