Thayer Consultancy Background Brief

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Russia and Vietnam on Defence
and Security Cooperation
June 20, 2024
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Did Putin’s visit to Hanoi move the needle on security/military cooperation? What
What is Vietnam aiming to get from the meeting?
ANSWER: Presidents Putin and To Lam addressed a joint press conference today (20
June) in Hanoi. They announced they had agreed on a Joint Statement on Deepening
the Russia-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The text has not been
released as of this writing.
There are five points to make about references to defence and security at the press
conference, none of which suggest Vietnam is about to make major arms purchases
from Russia in the near future.
First, Vietnam is clearly adhering to its four no’s defence policy. President Putin and
To Lam pledged that they would not form alliances or enter agreements with third
parties that could harm each other’s “independence, sovereignty and fundamental
interests and not to act against any third party, while offering mutual support and
contributing to regional and global peace.”
Second, Presidents Putin and To Lam pledged to mutually address western sanctions
by using the circumlocution that they would “overcome adverse global economic
challenges to intensify bilateral trade and investment, support key energy and oil
projects and facilitate the two countries’ expansion of business and investments…”
In a separate remark, President Putin “highlighted the increasing use of local
currencies in bilateral transactions, with 40% of trade in 2023 and 60% in the first
quarter of 2024, facilitated by the Vietnam-Russia Joint Venture Bank…”
This initiative is obviously designed to address bilateral trade and investment and
could facilitate Vietnamese purchases of Russian arms in the future.
Third, Presidents Putin and To Lam limited their agreement to step up defence and
security cooperation “to deal with non-traditional security challenges…”
Fourth, according to media reports, Presidents Putin and To Lam agreed to develop “a
reliable security architecture” in the Asia-Pacific Region in place of “closed-military-
political blocs.” At the joint press conference, the two leaders” embraced an inclusive,
undivided Asia-Pacific regional structure based on international law; and enhanced
economic linkages via APEC, G20, Asia-Europe economic cooperation frameworks.”
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The two leaders also supported “building a democratic, fair and transparent
international relations system based on international law and the UN Charter without
using or threatening the use of force, settling disputes peacefully, and promoting a
‘new, expanded, transparent, inclusive, non-discriminatory multilateral trading
system’.”
Fifth, President Putin and To Lam addressed the South China Sea in measured terms
by underscoring “the importance of maritime and aviation security and freedom,
refrainment from violence or threats of violence and resolution of disputes with
peaceful measures in line with the UN Charter and international law, especially
UNCLOS 1982.” They also supported the full implementation of Declaration on
Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and negotiations for an early, substantive
and effective Code of Parties in the East Seas (COC) in accordance with international
law.” This is straight out of ASEAN’s lexicon.
In sum, Vietnam has not entered into any public arrangement on defence and security
cooperation with Russia that would undermine its strategic autonomy or align it with
Russia against a third party.

Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, “Russia and Vietnam on Defence and Security
Cooperation,” Thayer Consultancy Background Brief, June 20, 2024. All background
briefs are posted on Scribd.com (search for Thayer). To remove yourself from the
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Thayer Consultancy provides political analysis of current regional security issues and
other research support to selected clients. Thayer Consultancy was officially
registered as a small business in Australia in 2002.