EU Prepares Charm Offensive in Vietnam Amid US Trade Risks.
European leaders are planning visits to Vietnam in coming months to strengthen ties with the Southeast Asian nation, officials said, amid tensions with Washington that could impact their exports to the United States. The EU's von der Leyen and France's President Macron plan trips, officials say, as the bloc seeks to boost trade and investment with Vietnam despite growing uncertainty. Vietnam, EU face threats of US crippling tariffs.
- This charm offensive may ultimately prove to be a clever strategy for the EU, allowing it to counterbalance the potential negative impacts of US trade policies on its exports to Vietnam by fostering stronger economic ties with Hanoi.
- What will happen if Vietnam were to pivot away from the US and increasingly rely on European companies as a result of Trump's tariffs – would this represent a significant shift in the balance of power in Southeast Asia?