The issue was discussed in the second Dialogue on Strategic Issues and Defense Cooperation (DQSCD) held in Hanoi, aiming to reinforce the defense ties that have lasted for more than three decades. 

The dialogue was co-chaired on April 14-15 by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Defense Hoang Xuan Chien and Alice Guitton, Director General for International Relations and Strategy, of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces.

Vietnam's Minister of Defense Phan Van Giang and Alice Guitton, Director General for International Relations and Strategy, of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces in Hanoi on April 15. Photo: QDND

The two-day event marked the discussions on joint challenges, including those in the Indo-Pacific; matters of mutual concerns; and collaboration pillars for further bilateral and regional defense cooperation. 

First held in 2019, the defense dialogue reflects enhanced defense relations, which becomes one of the key pillars of the Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and France. The discussion covered view exchange on the defense industry, the French Navy making port visits to Vietnam, military medicine, and peacekeeping operations. On the last point, a French officer appointed by the EU has been working in the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations since 2020. 

The dialogue is the subsequent event of the port call by Vendémiaire frigate to Cam Ranh Port, Vietnam, on March 1-5, 2022. 

Broad cooperation 

During the trip to Vietnam, Alice Guitton, Director General for International Relations and Strategy made an official visit to the civilian and military agencies. Accompanying her was a delegation including officers of the general staff and the General Department of Armament. 

Alice Guitton had a meeting with General Phan Van Giang, Vietnam’s Defense Minister, in the presence of the French Ambassador to Vietnam and the Defense Attaché. At talks, Giang noted that bilateral defense ties enhancement was reiterated in the visit paid by Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh to France in November 2021. 

On this visit, Guitton also met with leaders of Vietnamese agencies. She held talks with Ms. Nguyen Minh Hang, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs on bilateral topics, as well as France and Europe’s strategy in the Indo-Pacific region, in the context of France holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2022. 

Guitton also had a meeting with Le Hoai Trung, Head of the External Relations of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)’s Central Committee when she assured France’s continued commitment in the region, to Vietnam as well as to ASEAN. 

During her visit, Guitton addressed a meeting at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) with Francophone students studying defense issues and international relations, in which she shared her thoughts on geostrategic issues and the role of France and Europe in the Indo-Pacific region. 

In addition, a series of seminars were also organized at DAV with the participation of diplomats and representatives of strategic institutes of Vietnam and France around different topics, demonstrating the importance of continued cooperation on defense in all its forms, including beyond the military.