France and Vietnam Strengthen Defense Ties on 70th Anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Battle

In a historic visit marking an important new step in strengthening defense cooperation between France and Vietnam, French Minister of Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu will participate in ceremonies next week commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.

The French Ministry of Armed Forces was formerly known as the Ministry of Defence.

Minister Lecornu, accompanied by French Secretary of State to the Minister of the Armed Forces Patricia Mirallès, was invited by Vietnamese authorities to attend the May 7th anniversary events in Dien Bien Phu.

The Battle of Dien Bien Phu was a monumental confrontation in 1954 that led to the end of French colonial rule in Indochina. The decisive Vietnamese victory over the French forces at the remote valley in northwestern Vietnam became a seminal moment that furthered nationalist movements across Africa and Asia.

Their participation signals the closeness of bilateral ties between the two nations and a shared desire to deepen their strategic partnership. 

"The invitation to France for these ceremonies and the presence of the Defense Minister demonstrates the quality of our bilateral relations, our friendship and our joint willingness to reinforce our partnership," said a French embassy press release.

During his visit, Minister Lecornu will meet with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang, and Le Hoai Trung, head of the Communist Party's External Relations Commission. A letter of intent on strengthening defense cooperation will also be signed between the French and Vietnamese defense ministries.

The visit comes after last year's celebrations marking 50 years of diplomatic relations and a decade of strategic partnership between France and Vietnam.

In an October 2023 call, French President Emmanuel Macron and Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong expressed their wish to intensify cooperation in areas like supporting Vietnam's sovereignty, regional stability, global issues like climate change, and economic development through innovation.

At Dien Bien Phu, Secretary of State Mirallès will unveil a trilingual memorial pathway prepared jointly by both countries. An artistic lighting display on Muong Thanh Bridge, created by the French city of Lyon, is also planned. The French officials will tour battle sites and meet with veterans from both sides.

The Dien Bien Phu ceremonies highlight the complexity of the French-Vietnamese relationship, which has evolved from conflict to close strategic partnership over the past seven decades. As the two nations mark this historical anniversary, Minister Lecornu's visit underscores their commitment to an even deeper cooperation across the defense, economic and technological spheres in the years ahead.