PHOTO: BLOOMBERG[HANOI] Vietnam and the European Union have upgraded diplomatic relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, paving the way for deeper trade ties as US President Donald Trump’s tariffs roil global trade and strain long-held alliances. Vietnam has been building global ties for years, and has comprehensive strategic partnerships, its highest-level agreement, with the US, China, Russia, Japan, India, UK, France and Australia. The upgrade in relations sends “a powerful signal in an unsettled world – that the EU and Vietnam are choosing long-term cooperation over short-term hedging”, Costa said in an editorial. The EU is Vietnam’s fourth-largest trading partner, with two-way trade increasing 10 to 15 per cent annually to about US$73.8 billion in 2025, according to Vietnam government data. Vietnam and the EU have also established a Defence and Security Dialogue mechanism.