Macron meets Vietnamese leaders on first visit to Hanoi, $10 billion worth of deals signed

France and Vietnam signed deals on Airbus planes, defense and other pacts worth more than $10 billion on Monday, as President Emmanuel Macron visited Hanoi seeking to boost France's influence in its former colony amid the risks of high U.S. tariffs.

Macron's first official visit to Vietnam, the first by a French president in nearly a decade, comes after US President Donald Trump threatened on Friday to impose 50% tariffs on European Union goods from June 1, stoking tensions with the 27-nation bloc, although he later extended that deadline to July 9.

Export-dependent Vietnam, under pressure from Washington to buy more American goods, has made promises in trade talks to avoid 46% tariffs that could hurt its growth, fueling European concerns about the deals at the expense of the region.

Macron said France signed contracts worth 9 billion euros ($10.25 billion) in Vietnam during his visit. The deals covered the purchase of 20 Airbus planes, cooperation in nuclear energy, defense, rail and maritime transport.

A total of 14 agreements were signed, which would be fewer than the dozen that the French presidential palace had said were in preparation before the visit, but more agreements were expected to be announced on Tuesday, an official said.

In press statements without question, Macron reiterated France's support for freedom of navigation, an issue dear to Vietnam as it often clashes with Beijing over disputed borders in the South China Sea.

Macron added that the partnership with Vietnam "includes reinforced cooperation in defense," citing the signing of numerous projects in defense and space.

Vietnam's President Luong Cuong said the defense partnership included "information sharing on strategic issues" and stronger cooperation in the defense industry, cybersecurity and counterterrorism.

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