Vietnam Defense Expo 2024 begins in Hanoi
Vietnam Defence Expo 2024 begins in Hanoi today.
First held in 2022, this is the second iteration of the event, running through December 22. Major exhibitors include the American company, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, the Russian company, Rostec, and the French company, Airbus, showcasing advanced technologies across air, naval, ground and security systems. Significantly, the presence of delegations from global powers like China, India, the US and Russia highlights Vietnam’s balancing act in cultivating defense relationships amid increasing global geopolitical tensions.
Vietnam seeks to modernize its armed forces and foster international defense relations while adhering to its ‘Four Nos’ policy: no military alliances, no foreign bases, no siding with one country against another and no use or threat of force. Recent initiatives include the annual VINBAX exercise with India, stronger ties with the US after the 2016 arms embargo lift and 2023 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and ongoing engagement with China despite disputes in the South China Sea.
With participants from the UAE, Iran, Japan, Israel, Australia and South Korea also in attendance, and with the war in Ukraine and the US-China trade war shifting global supply chains, look for Vietnam to continue positioning itself as a key regional hub for defense manufacturing and trade. By leveraging its strategic location and low labor costs, Vietnam is likely to attract increased multinational investment and diplomatic engagement from the West as a viable alternative to China in the medium term, while maintaining its importance to China and Russia by serving as a bridge for middle powers to connect with Western-sanction firms.
