EU and Vietnam Establish Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in Hanoi

The European Union and Vietnam formally upgraded their diplomatic relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on January 29, 2026, during an official visit to Hanoi by European Council President António Costa. This marks the first time the EU has established such a high-level partnership with a Southeast Asian nation, placing the bloc on the same diplomatic tier as China, Russia, and the United States. The agreement follows the reappointment of Tô Lâm as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and is part of a broader effort by both parties to diversify trade and supply chains amid tariff pressures from the Donald Trump administration.

The partnership focuses on cooperation in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, robotics, and critical minerals, including rare earths, gallium, and tungsten, to reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains. It also emphasizes the green transition, digital transformation, and maritime security in the South China Sea. Both sides committed to the implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, though the EU previously cited a €42.5 billion trade deficit in 2024 caused by non-tariff barriers.

During meetings with State President Lương Cường and General Secretary Tô Lâm, Vietnam requested EU support to lift the IUU yellow card warning on its sustainable fisheries exports. The upgrade coincides with a wider trend of diplomatic realignment, as the EU also finalized a major free trade accord with India and the United Kingdom sought a stable partnership with China to maintain a rules-based international order during a period of global unpredictability.