Overview
- European Council President António Costa announced the upgrade in Hanoi, placing the EU on the same diplomatic tier Vietnam assigns to the United States, China and Russia.
- The parties outlined plans to expand work on critical minerals and semiconductor supply chains, according to a draft joint statement seen by Reuters.
- The draft also references cooperation on “trusted” communications infrastructure, including 5G and satellite connectivity, with European firms already active in Vietnam’s 5G rollout.
- Security ties feature in the draft, which says the EU will consider transfers of non-sensitive technology and explore possible defence-technology cooperation, though commitments remain political rather than legal.
- Bilateral trade reached $66.8 billion in the first 11 months of 2025, reinforcing the EU’s role as a major market for Vietnam as both navigate higher U.S. tariffs on their exports.