Vietnam and the European Union (EU) on October 17 signed a Framework Participation Agreement (FPA) that steps up the two sides’ security and defense cooperation. 
Vietnamese Defense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich and Fecerica Mogherini, Vice-President of the European Commission. Photo: Vnanet
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The agreement was signed in Brussels by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, and Vietnam’s Minister of National Defense, General Ngo Xuan Lich, according to Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam.
Vietnam becomes the second partner country in Asia after the Republic of Korea, and the first in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to sign FPA with the EU.
FPA confirms the EU’s and Vietnam’s shared commitment to contribute to peace and security in their neighborhoods and the wider world, as well as to safeguarding the rules-based, multilateral order.
The two senior officials sign the agreement. Photo: Quandoinhandan
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The agreement will facilitate Vietnam’s participation in in the EU crisis management operations and contribution to the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) missions and operations.
CSDP provides the EU with the operational capacity to deploy both civilian missions and military operations, while FPAs constitute an important instrument for the EU to strengthen the involvement of our partners in this area.
CSDP missions and operations are a unique instrument in the EU’s toolbox allowing for direct action to manage a conflict or crisis and to focus on goals such as rule of law reform, stabilization, fighting organized crime, and reform of the security sector.
So far, the EU operates 10 civilian missions and 6 military operations, which can include contributions of third states through the conclusion of FPAs. Including the agreement signed with Vietnam, the EU now has FPAs with 19 partner countries.
The signing of this agreement shows an elevated ambition from both Vietnam and the EU to implement effectively their defense and security cooperation partnership, which had been discussed during Federica Mogherini’s visit to Hanoi in August.
Speaking at the signing ceremony on October 17, Federica Mogherini said the agreement would “add an enormous potential to our already-strong cooperation on security and defense issues.”
