Share this article:XBlueskyFacebookGet Article LinkThe two countries signed a set of agreements Tuesday on defense, agriculture and border security, during Vietnamese leader To Lam’s official visit to Canberra. Among them was a memorandum of understanding aimed at closer cooperation on maritime law enforcement between Vietnam’s coast guard and the Australian Border Force, along with commitments to build out shared supply chains in critical minerals, semiconductors and clean energy. In WPR in June, Lam Duc Vu wrote that Australia has an opportunity to more closely partner with Southeast Asian countries on defense and security amid uncertainty over Washington’s dependability as Australia’s primary ally, and he identified maritime surveillance as one area ripe for such cooperation. However, the lack of ambition in this week’s agreements also highlights the limits of Australia’s approach to the region that Lam identified. “Australian defense exports operate within a framework closely coordinated with Washington, and transfers of sensitive technology to states like Vietnam and Indonesia require a U.S. green light that is not guaranteed,” he wrote.