Vietnam’s Strategic Vision: Balancing Economic Growth, Defense Modernization, and Global Partnerships

Vietnam remains focused on international partnerships and leveraging high technology and dual-use capabilities to advance economic and military goals. On April 22, Prime Minister Chinh issued a directive emphasizing the attraction of large-scale, high-tech, and environmentally friendly foreign investment, while the government is pushing to establish a National One-Stop Investment Portal and corresponding investment centers to streamline FDI inflows. At the same time, Hanoi balanced Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit amidst reports of potential F-16 procurements and Indian BrahMos missiles, while proactively lowering tariffs and pledging increased U.S. imports - including in the aerospace sector – to align trade adjustments with broader development and defense strategy. All told, Vietnam continues to accelerate domestic industrial capabilities, with a strategic emphasis on dual-use technology, indigenous production, and building an advanced, export-capable economy while strengthening its defense posture.