Biden to Visit Vietnam ‘Shortly’

US President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday his upcoming visit to Vietnam.

The White House has not yet made an official announcement regarding the trip, but Biden revealed his intentions during a political fundraising event in the state of New Mexico.

The United States and Vietnam have maintained close trade relations, with both countries sharing concerns over the growing influence of China in the region.

The US president’s visit to Vietnam reflects his administration's efforts to bolster ties with Hanoi and address shared geopolitical challenges.

During a stopover in Vietnam in April on his way to the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Japan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for the enhancement of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

This underscores the mutual interest in strengthening cooperation and promoting stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

One significant point of concern in the area is the South China Sea, where multiple countries, including China and Vietnam, have competing territorial claims over its waters, small islands, and coral reefs.

While the US does not have territorial claims in the South China Sea, it conducts regular patrols to ensure the freedom of navigation through the crucial waterway, which facilitates the annual transport of billions of dollars worth of goods.

Biden's announcement of his forthcoming visit to Vietnam comes amidst ongoing efforts to improve relations with Beijing.

Blinken's earlier planned trip to China in June was postponed due to a dispute involving a Chinese surveillance balloon that the U.S. claimed had entered its airspace.