French President Emmanuel Macron has begun a six-day visit to Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore, and will tout France and Europe as preferred trade and security partners amid tensions between China and the United States.
Macron, who arrived in Vietnam late Sunday, made a push for closer trade and security cooperation, aimed at comparing with the increasing military confidence China and U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on export-ruling countries in the region.
“France, together with the EU, represents a reliable partner who is committed to sovereignty and respect for independence.”
Trump attacked Vietnam, Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries last month, with its highest "reciprocal" tariff rate being the highest for China. Although the U.S. president temporarily suspended these taxes, the region seeks new trade opportunities to strengthen ties with the EU.
French officials said Macron will stress that unlike the current U.S. government, the EU still supports international trade rules. "We don't want to be jungle where the most powerful laws prevail," the official said.
Security concerns on the agenda will also be high given China's increasingly confident naval presence in the South China Sea and tensions with Taiwan.
Macron has positioned France as part of the Indo-Pacific power in the past in countries including China (including state visits in 2023).
France has several overseas territories in the Indo-Pacific region, including La Renion and Mayotte, which are home to about 17,000 people. Its naval frigates patrol the South China Sea, and the country has several military bases in a vast area.
Vietnam and Singapore have reached a free trade agreement with the EU, while Indonesia has been negotiating to establish a deal.
French officials said Macron will stress that unlike the current U.S. government, the EU still supports international trade rules. "We don't want to be jungle where the most powerful laws prevail," the official said.
Vietnam, which became a manufacturing industry in its transformation from China's global production, upgraded its relations with France to a "integrated strategic partnership" position in October, the highest level of diplomatic ties Hanoi offers.
Vietnam, threatened by Trump's 46% tariffs, is stepping up efforts to diversify one-third of trade from U.S. exports and sign free trade agreements with countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Vietnam also hopes that its independent foreign policy – with “the roots of bamboo” and “flexible branches” as “bamboo diplomacy” – combined with the ability to balance ties with superpowers will help ensure trade deals.
Vietnamese state media said that in Hanoi, Macron is expected to discuss cooperation on economy, defense, security and energy. The agreement on the power transmission line is one of a deal expected to be signed.
After Vietnam, Macron will travel to resource-rich Indonesia, and President Prabowo Su Unming is seeking foreign investment to stimulate the slowdown. Indonesia has previously purchased French defense equipment, including Rafale aircraft and Scorpio submarines, as it attempts to reduce its historical dependence on Russian weapons.
"There may be other contracts during the trip," said Céline Pajon, head of the Japan and Indo-Pacific Institute of the French Institute of International Relations. "France and Indonesia intend to improve the defense partnership to something long-term and structural."
In a statement this month, the Indonesian government said Macron's visit reflects "the commitment of the two countries to cooperate in the face of global challenges."
French officials said.
During the last stop of the trip to Singapore, Macron will speak in the Shangri-La dialogue at Asia's largest defense forum.
"This is the first time that European leaders have been invited to speak, which is a recognition of how Macron has developed a true Indo-Pacific strategy. He also encourages the EU to adopt it," Pajon said.