32 min
Episode 3: Awaiting a Thaw? U.S.-Vietnam Ties in 2023 Engaging the Eagle - Exploring U.S. Foreign Policy in Southeast Asia
-
- Politics
Described as a “critical swing state” by Kurt Campbell, Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs on the National Security Council, Vietnam has been increasingly viewed as a key partner for the U.S. due to its strategic location and their common interest in opposing Chinese maritime aggression. Yet, the relationship between Washington and Hanoi has ostensibly cooled over the past year, with no major visits by U.S. leaders to Vietnam in 2022. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelled his visit to Hanoi in July, while the anticipated visit by the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and a requested visit from President Joe Biden failed to materialize.
There have been numerous suggested reasons for this relative freeze in ties with the U.S., ranging from frictions over the Russian invasion of Ukraine to the ouster of former-President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Hanoi’s desire to reaffirm economic
ties with Beijing. Nonetheless, there are still opportunities for Washington to deepen its relationship with Hanoi, especially in areas such as energy security and trade. Some observers have also called for the pair to elevate their relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership, which would signal their mutual interest in a more sustainable path of cooperation.
Described as a “critical swing state” by Kurt Campbell, Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs on the National Security Council, Vietnam has been increasingly viewed as a key partner for the U.S. due to its strategic location and their common interest in opposing Chinese maritime aggression. Yet, the relationship between Washington and Hanoi has ostensibly cooled over the past year, with no major visits by U.S. leaders to Vietnam in 2022. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancelled his visit to Hanoi in July, while the anticipated visit by the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and a requested visit from President Joe Biden failed to materialize.
There have been numerous suggested reasons for this relative freeze in ties with the U.S., ranging from frictions over the Russian invasion of Ukraine to the ouster of former-President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Hanoi’s desire to reaffirm economic
ties with Beijing. Nonetheless, there are still opportunities for Washington to deepen its relationship with Hanoi, especially in areas such as energy security and trade. Some observers have also called for the pair to elevate their relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership, which would signal their mutual interest in a more sustainable path of cooperation.
32 min