As part of a signal of strategic rapprochement between Russia and Vietnam, ships from the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet recently arrived at the Vietnamese port of Da Nang. The visit coincides with the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Victory and the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Highlighting a naval cooperation that has lasted for over 70 years with Vietnam, the arrival of the Russian ships on May 10 followed several port calls and exercises with different navies. The last stop was in Cambodia, where crews held official meetings with local authorities and representatives of the naval command. The detachment includes the corvettes Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov (339) and Rezkiy (343), both from the Steregushchiy-class (Project 20380), supported during their deployment by the tanker Pechenga.
As part of their itinerary, the units participated in the multinational naval exercise Security Belt 2025 in March, held in the northern Indian Ocean alongside the navies of China and Iran. The main objective of this deployment was to deepen trust and cooperation between the navies in a region vital for maritime trade but marked by significant insecurity. Other countries, including Azerbaijan, South Africa, Oman, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Qatar, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Sri Lanka, attended as observers. In April, the same units took part in another joint naval exercise, this time with the Indian Navy, dubbed Indra. During this phase, both forces worked to strengthen bilateral cooperation and improve operational interoperability.
During this new stop, Russian crews are scheduled to carry out a diplomatic and ceremonial agenda through May 14, which includes exchanges with the local navy and visits to the Command of Vietnam’s 5th Military Region and 3rd Naval Region of the People’s Army.
Finally, it is important to note that the arrival of Pacific Fleet vessels in Vietnam is part of a broader strategy of projecting Russia’s presence in the Asia-Pacific region—currently the main focus of the new U.S. administration, which is also working to reaffirm its ties with key partners. In this context of great power competition, such visits not only reinforce bilateral defense cooperation but also send clear signals regarding Moscow’s geopolitical positioning.
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