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Will Blinken’s trip yield a strategic upgrade for US ties with China-friendly Vietnam?
- Blinken’s trip is part of US efforts to upgrade diplomatic relations with Vietnam, which has been hesitant to formally upgrade ties over fears of alienating Beijing
- Trip by the US secretary of state could also lay the groundwork for a formal visit by President Joe Biden
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As Vietnam prepares for the arrival of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken this week, analysts from both countries suspect a long-sought upgrade in security ties may finally be achieved.
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Blinken is set to visit Hanoi from April 14-16 before travelling to Japan for the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting.
He will meet Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who is Vietnam’s de facto senior-most leader, said a source in the Vietnamese foreign ministry.
Carl Thayer, professor emeritus at the University of New South Wales and specialist on Vietnamese defence, said the meetings were significant as Blinken would be “laying the groundwork” for a visit by US President Joe Biden, likely in May to coincide with trips to the G7 Summit in Hiroshima and a Quad meeting in Sydney.
“The time is ripe for both countries to formally upgrade relations from a comprehensive to a strategic partnership,” he said.
Le Dang Doanh, a retired senior economic adviser to five Vietnamese prime ministers, said an upgrade in relations would be “beneficial” and help to “enhance Vietnam’s position” in the realm of global security.
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He noted that a Trong visit to the US in July was in consideration. Diplomatic sources confirmed that plans were underway for the Vietnamese leader to visit Washington.
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