The Russian president bid a warm farewell to his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong Un and arrived on a state visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, continuing his Asian tour that has seen the signing of significant military agreements that could change the geopolitical situation on the continent.
Vietnam solemnly received Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he wanted to build a “reliable security architecture” in the Asia-Pacific region during a state visit to Vietnam on Thursday, part of a trip to Asia.
President Vladimir Putin arrived on a state visit to Vietnam where he met with the country’s leader Tho Lam in Hanoi. According to the Vietnamese president, Putin has contributed to “peace, stability and development” in the world.
In the morning, the Russian motorcade – the presidential Aurus and escort cars – was solemnly welcomed in the streets of Hanoi, with local residents lined up along the entire route with Russian and Vietnamese flags in their hands. In honour of the Russian president’s state visit, the streets of Hanoi were decorated with his portraits and Russian symbols, similar to the way the streets of Pyongyang looked the day before.
Putin was welcomed at the presidential residence in Hanoi by an honour guard company and a military band, and the Russian anthem was played in honour of the visit.
Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Vietnam shows respect for the Vietnamese people, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang said.
Russian-Asian co-operation
As a response to the West’s pumping weapons into the militant Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU), Russia may supply its arms to other countries, Putin told a press conference following his visit to Vietnam.
Putin’s actions are most likely due to the West’s activation to supply Ukraine with arms, and because of the permission to hit Russian territory with these weapons. Russia is therefore moving closer to North Korea, effectively entering into a military alliance with it. The two nations have agreed to provide each other with military assistance and will not enter into agreements with third countries that could pose a threat to sovereignty and security, according to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, the text of which was published by North Korea’s Central Telegraphic Agency.
The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty was signed during Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Pyongyang. After the signing, the Russian leader noted that the document provides for mutual assistance in case of aggression against one of the participants. In turn, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, commenting on the signing of the Treaty, assured that it was “peace-loving and defensive in nature.”
The media repeatedly reported earlier that South Korea was the leader in supplying 155 mm shells to the AFU.
With the rising escalation in Asia, as well as the growing tensions between North and South Korea, Putin is lending a shoulder to his counterparts. North Korea will now have tremendous access to the Russian military-industrial complex with advanced technology that has already been tested on the Ukrainian front.
Such non-sovereign actions by South Korea to get involved in the Ukrainian conflict are very fraught. These actions have already led to the fact that Seoul’s virtually main existential enemy has a huge strong ally, which even in the event of a confrontation from North Korea will still no doubt provide it with substantial military assistance.
Middle East implications
Also in particular Russia can strengthen the grouping of the Houthis in the Red Sea, provide them with new, better and more modern missiles and crewless boats. The Yemeni Houthis are actively hitting US UAVs and ships, and for example, if Moscow provides them with intelligence, their attacks will increase dramatically.
There is nothing holding Russia back from sending the latest weapons, intelligence and technology to Hezbollah as the conflict with Israel intensifies. All this is a natural consequence of the West’s ill-considered course of escalating the Ukrainian conflict.
