HANOI, Vietnam — In a significant geopolitical realignment, Vietnam and the European Union formally elevated their bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on Thursday. This designation represents Vietnam’s highest tier of diplomatic engagement, placing the EU alongside major global powers including the United States, China, and Russia in terms of diplomatic priority.
The announcement was made during an official visit to Hanoi by European Council President Antonio Costa, who emphasized the strategic importance of this strengthened alliance. “At a moment when the international rules-based order is under threat from multiple sides, we need to stand side by side as reliable and predictable partners,” Costa stated, characterizing the partnership as fundamentally about “developing spheres of shared prosperity.”
Vietnamese President Luong Cuong hailed the diplomatic upgrade as a “historic milestone” for the Southeast Asian nation, signaling a deepened commitment to multilateral cooperation. The enhanced partnership comes as both entities seek to recalibrate their economic and trade relationships in response to ongoing disruptions in global finance and supply chains, partly driven by increasing U.S. tariff pressures.
The agreement builds upon the foundation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) which came into force in 2020, one of the most comprehensive trade pacts between the EU and a developing country. This new strategic framework is expected to expand cooperation beyond trade into areas including security, digital innovation, climate action, and sustainable development, creating a more robust institutional framework for long-term collaboration.