Vietnam arrests prominent journalist over Facebook posts
Korea HeraldMay 26
Putin Arrives in Vietnam for State Visit
Above: Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Vietnamese President To Lam (L) attend a welcoming ceremony on June 20, 2024 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Image copyright: Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin arrived in Vietnam on Thursday on the last leg of his two-nation Asian trip after signing a defense pact with North Korea.
After Vietnamese Pres. Tô Lâm praised Russia's "domestic political stability," Putin noted that reinforcing a comprehensive strategic partnership with Hanoi is Moscow's priority.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Following his North Korea trip, Putin's charm offensive in Vietnam primarily aims to reinforce relations in Asia to offset Russia's growing international isolation. However, by offering Putin a stage, Hanoi risks upsetting key trading partners in the West, Japan, and South Korea. Given that Vietnam and the US recently upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, Vietnam should think twice about alienating the West out of false loyalty to Moscow.
Establishment-critical narrative
Putin's visit highlights the mutual respect and long-standing Russia-Vietnam friendship and yet again exposes the absurdity of Western claims of Russia's "international isolation." The West is trapped in a worldview based on double standards and hypocrisy, while countries like Vietnam are increasingly seeking to preserve their strategic autonomy without jeopardizing US ties. International relations are no zero-sum game, and only if Washington recognizes this will it regain some credibility.