Russia’s President Vladimir Putin may soon be embarking on a state visit to Vietnam, following an invitation from Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) leader Nguyen Phu Throng extended during a recent phone call.
During the conversation, Vietnamese state media reported that “General Secretary Trọng took the opportunity to invite President Putin to visit Viet Nam in the near future, which the latter gladly accepted.” Putin and Trong agreed to coordinate to determine a suitable time for the visit.
If the visit materializes, Putin would be following the footsteps of U.S. President Joe Biden and China’s President Xi Jinping, who both visited Vietnam in September and December respectively.
Trong also conveyed his congratulations to Putin on his “reelection” as Russia’s president and expressed condolences for the recent tragedy at the Crocus City concert hall in Moscow. He acknowledged the historically good relations between Vietnam and Russia and highlighted that Vietnam values its comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia established in 2012.
Putin has visited Vietnam four times during his tenure, the latest being his attendance at the APEC Summit in Danang in 2017. He also participated in the East Asia Summit hosted by Vietnam in 2020 through a video link due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While it is unclear whether Putin will visit Vietnam this year, it could be influenced by factors such as the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court or his contentious reputation in the West.
A state visit by Putin would align with Vietnam’s strategy of fostering relationships with major powers. With recent visits by leaders from various countries, including Australia, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Indonesia, it’s likely that Vietnam will extend a warm welcome to Putin despite Western opinions.