Putin arrives in Hanoi following the signing of a defence pact with North Korea

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Hanoi on Thursday, June 20, 2024, marking the start of a state visit just a day after finalising a mutual defence agreement with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. This pact, which commits the nations to mutual aid in the event of an attack, has drawn international scrutiny, especially from the United States and its allies, who accuse North Korea of supplying arms to Russia for its ongoing conflict in Ukraine. 

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Putin Arrives in Hanoi Amid Strategic Defence Pact with North Korea

Putin touched down at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport, where he was to meet with President To Lam and Nguyen Phu Trong, the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The visit, focusing on economic, educational, and energy issues, comes at a time when Vietnam is strategically balancing its foreign relations amidst increasing US-China rivalry. Despite historical ties with Moscow, Vietnam has maintained a cautious stance to avoid favouring any global power overtly. 

The defence pact with North Korea, signed in Pyongyang, has heightened concerns about potential increases in military cooperation between the two isolated nations. The US State Department expressed alarm over the deepening Russia-North Korea relations, emphasising the risk to global peace and stability. Russian aggression in Ukraine is being supported by North Korea, according to Ukrainian officials, who denounced the agreement. 

As Putin’s visit unfolds, it remains to be seen how these new alliances will reshape geopolitical dynamics, especially in Southeast Asia.