Macron and To Lam Strengthen Strategic Partnership Across Defence, Security, Technology, Energy and Critical Minerals

France and Vietnam are expanding their strategic partnership, with French President Emmanuel Macron and Vietnamese President To Lam agreeing to make defence a central pillar of their bilateral relationship.

The agreements were announced during To Lam’s official visit to Paris on September 10, where he met Macron at the Élysée Palace on the sidelines of the International Space Summit. The two leaders discussed international and regional security issues, including developments in Ukraine, the Middle East, the South China Sea and ASEAN.

Defence Becomes a Key Pillar

Macron said France and Vietnam had decided to make defence a pillar of their strategic partnership, reflecting closer cooperation as security dynamics evolve across the Indo-Pacific.

The two countries are strengthening maritime security cooperation, with French naval vessels making increased port calls in Vietnam. Paris and Hanoi also reaffirmed the importance of freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.

Defence-industrial cooperation is also expanding, with French and Vietnamese companies working more closely on defence capabilities and technologies.

One notable development is the expected completion of a 2025 letter of intent covering Vietnam’s potential acquisition of three NH90 helicopters from Airbus Helicopters.

Cooperation Extends Beyond Defence

The agreements signed during the visit cover a much wider range of strategic sectors.

France and Vietnam are strengthening cooperation in aerospace, critical minerals, energy, technology and industrial development.

Airbus and Thales signed important agreements with Vietnamese partners, while the two countries also concluded an agreement on rare earths and critical minerals. The partnership is intended to support more resilient supply chains and strengthen strategic autonomy.

In the energy sector, France has expressed its intention to become a key partner in Vietnam’s decarbonisation efforts and nuclear energy programme, including industrial cooperation, safety and training.

Space and Advanced Technology

Space cooperation has also emerged as an important part of the relationship.

Vietnam has chosen France for the acquisition of an Earth-observation satellite, which Paris says will contribute to Vietnam’s technological and strategic sovereignty.

The announcement comes as France seeks to strengthen its own strategic autonomy in advanced technologies while building deeper partnerships with countries across the Indo-Pacific.

Trade and Investment

Economic cooperation remains another major pillar of the relationship.

Macron and To Lam reaffirmed their support for implementation of the European Union-Vietnam free-trade agreement, while France welcomed progress toward ratification of the EU-Vietnam investment protection agreement.

The two sides are also working to expand industrial cooperation across sectors considered critical to long-term economic resilience.

A Strategic Partnership in the Indo-Pacific

France and Vietnam elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2024, building on years of diplomatic, economic and security cooperation.

Macron said the latest visit demonstrated the momentum behind the relationship and the two countries’ shared objective of strengthening their respective strategic autonomy.

For France, Vietnam represents an important partner in the Indo-Pacific, a region where Paris maintains territories and a permanent strategic presence.

For Vietnam, deeper cooperation with France offers access to European technology, defence expertise, investment and industrial capabilities while supporting Hanoi’s broader strategy of diversifying strategic partnerships.

A Broader Role for France and Vietnam

The latest agreements point to a relationship that is increasingly extending beyond traditional trade and diplomacy.

From defence and maritime security to space, critical minerals, energy and advanced technology, Paris and Hanoi are seeking to build a broader partnership capable of responding to changing geopolitical and economic conditions.

The developments also underline the growing importance of the Indo-Pacific in France’s foreign and defence policy, while giving Vietnam another avenue for strengthening its strategic and economic partnerships.