Vietnam’s Normal Secretary of the Communist Celebration To Lam (R) shakes fingers with French President Emmanuel Macron (L) on the Workplace of the Celebration Central Committee in Hanoi on Might 26, 2025. (Photograph by LUONG THAI LINH / POOL / AFP) (Photograph by LUONG THAI LINH/POOL/AFP through Getty Photographs)
Luong Thai Linh | Afp | Getty Photographs
France and Vietnam signed a deal on Monday for 20 Airbus planes, amongst different pacts, as President Emmanuel Macron visited Hanoi looking for to spice up France’s affect in its former colony, grappling with threats of crippling U.S. tariffs.
Macron’s first formal go to to Vietnam, the primary by a French president in almost a decade, follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats on Friday of fifty% duties on EU items from June that sharply fuelled pressure with the 27-nation bloc.
Export-dependent Vietnam, below strain from Washington to purchase extra American items, has made pledges in commerce talks to avert 46% tariffs that might impair its progress, fanning European considerations about offers on the area’s expense.
Offers signed throughout Macron’s go to lined the airplane buy, cooperation on nuclear vitality, railways, Airbus earth-observation satellites and Sanofi vaccines, a listing of paperwork seen by Reuters confirmed, confirming an earlier report.
In statements to the press with no questions allowed, Macron reiterated France’s assist of freedom of navigation, a difficulty pricey to Vietnam because it usually clashes with Beijing over contested boundaries within the South China Sea.
Macron added the partnership with Vietnam “entails a bolstered defence cooperation”, citing the signing of a number of tasks on defence and house.
Vietnam’s President Luong Cuong mentioned the defence partnership concerned “sharing of data on strategic issues” and stronger cooperation within the defence business, cybersecurity and anti-terrorism.
France dominated the Southeast Asian nation for about 70 years till it was compelled out in 1954 after a significant defeat at Dien Bien Phu in northern Vietnam.
Ties have improved in current many years, being upgraded final yr to Vietnam’s highest stage.
On his journey, the primary leg of a Southeast Asian tour that features Indonesia and Singapore, Macron will go to a college in Hanoi on Tuesday, earlier than flying to Jakarta, the Indonesian capital.
Airbus
The cope with European planemaker Airbus for Vietnam’s low-cost airline VietJet to purchase 20 A330neo wide-body plane follows final yr’s settlement for 20 of the jets.
The signing adopted urging by European officers in current weeks for Vietnam to watch out in concessions made to the White Home, two officers based mostly in Vietnam with data of the discussions had advised Reuters, referring to considerations on Airbus.
Airbus is the principle provider of jets to Vietnam, contributing 86% of its fleet, information from aviation analytics agency Cirium reveals.
A separate settlement with Airbus Defence was additionally signed throughout the go to for cooperation with Vietnam on earth-observations satellites.
Airbus has lengthy been in talks with Hanoi for the substitute of Vietnam’s earth-observation satellite tv for pc, constructed by Airbus’ predecessor EADS and launched in 2013.
With an financial system closely depending on U.S. exports, Vietnam has signalled the doable buy of not less than 250 Boeing planes by flag provider Vietnam Airways and rival VietJet.
Officers of each nations have mentioned such offers would assist lower its big commerce surplus with america and probably appease Trump.
In talks with america, “Vietnam ought to be sure to not make choices on the expense of European pursuits,” one of many EU officers mentioned.
Vietnamese leaders have been suggested such steps may jeopardise shut ties with the EU, which has a free commerce cope with Vietnam and is a significant purchaser of its items, they added.