Vietnam Boosts Global Standing Through Enhanced BRICS, Franco-Russian Ties

Vietnam's consistent participation in BRICS activities at a high level since becoming a partner country in June 2025 demonstrates the importance it attaches to the cooperation mechanism. Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, accompanied by a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, is set to attend the 18th BRICS Summit and hold bilateral engagements in India from September 12 to 13. This summit marks Prime Minister Le Minh Hung's first attendance and the second time Vietnam has participated as a BRICS partner country, signifying Vietnam’s growing role and responsible contributions to global issues and the future of the region and the world. Vietnam has called on countries to act responsibly in accordance with international law and the UN Charter; respect the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of states; refrain from using or threatening to use force; and settle disputes peacefully through dialogue. It also underscored the importance of ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation through straits in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Meanwhile, Vietnam's ties with France are also deepening. On September 10 (local time), General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President To Lam and French President Emmanuel Macron, during their meeting in Hanoi, agreed to effectively implement existing cooperation mechanisms and explore deeper sectoral cooperation to meet development needs in the new context. The two leaders agreed that the two countries need to make full use of their respective strengths, capitalize on their complementary advantages, elevate strategic areas of cooperation to a higher level, and establish new frameworks for bilateral cooperation. They also concurred to continue strengthening cooperation in defense and security, UN peacekeeping operations, and in preventing and combating organized transnational crime. Furthermore, Vietnam values its relations with Russia. Italian political analyst Giulio Chinappi noted that the head of state's visit to Russia came at a special time as the two countries look towards more than 75 years of diplomatic relations. This trip successfully linked the solid legacy of traditional friendship with a modern foreign policy vision directly serving Vietnam’s future development needs. These developments reflect Vietnam's strategy to maintain economic growth under its one-party system while diversifying its international influence. Engagement with BRICS, in particular, appears aimed at strengthening its position within the Global South while maintaining relations with China and Russia, and seeking its own development path. These moves underscore Vietnam's multi-pronged foreign policy approach on the global stage.