Washington has expressed disapproval over Vietnam’s decision to host talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, citing concerns about giving a platform to a leader involved in aggression and human rights violations. The US Embassy in Hanoi criticized the move, pointing out that normalizing Putin’s actions could undermine international law.
Putin’s upcoming visit to Vietnam will mark his fifth trip to the country and his first since 2017. The Russian president is set to discuss trade, investment, technology, education, and arms sales with Vietnamese leaders. Despite US-led sanctions against Russia, Putin continues to strengthen ties with key allies.
The Vietnamese government’s exclusion of the Ukraine peace conference and interest in joining BRICS, as well as hosting Putin, signals a strategic departure from aligning closely with major global powers. Vietnam’s diplomatic relations have evolved since the end of a devastating war, maintaining independence in its foreign policy decisions.