Why is Russia’s Putin visiting Vietnam after North Korea?
Al Jazeera
Vietnam is a rising nation that the West wants closer ties with. The visit is a signal from Russia: Putin isn’t isolated.
Russian President Vladimir Putin flies to Vietnam on Wednesday evening after a day trip to North Korea for a visit to an old ally that has positioned itself as an increasingly influential geopolitical player, wooed by most major nations.
The visit, among other things, is Russia’s way of showcasing that Putin is treated as a pariah by the West, but he still holds political clout in the East, experts have said. Communist-led Vietnam will welcome Putin for a two-day visit, the Kremlin said.
The trip comes after the United States last week imposed more sanctions on Moscow and Western countries reiterated their unwavering support for Ukraine – now fighting its third year of war against Russia – by agreeing to a $50bn loan for Kyiv at a Group of Seven summit. The visit also comes days after last weekend’s Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland.
While North Korea, where Putin held meetings with leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday, is itself a global outcast — heavily sanctioned by the United Nations over its nuclear and missile programmes — Vietnam is a nation that other major countries want close ties with.
A rising economy and a leading exporter of garments, Vietnam today counts the US and other Western countries as important partners. India is a growing defence partner. Vietnam is also a pillar of Southeast Asian efforts to balance ties with China — keeping strong economic ties with Beijing while pushing back against perceived military threats from the Asian giant.
