Da Nang, Vietnam, 11 April, 2024. The first EU-Vietnam dialogue on convergences in maritime security took place today on board the French navy frigate Vendémiaire, which is making a call in the port of Da Nang.

The roundtable, bringing together 40 officials and experts from Vietnam, the European Union, and EU Member States, seeks to better understand the range of maritime security issues impacting both sides, and to identify potential areas of collaboration.

The event is organised by the Embassy of France in Vietnam, the EU Delegation to Vietnam, and the EU project Enhancing Security Cooperation In & With Asia (ESIWA).

The gathering is designed to support policy dialogue, build on past collaborative activities, and frame future cooperation in maritime security between the EU and Vietnam. Expert input will be provided by speakers including Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, Director General, East Sea Institute of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, and Dr. Paco Milhiet from France, Visiting Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Singapore.

The Ambassador of the European Union to Vietnam, H.E. Julien Guerrier, said: “This roundtable is further testimony to the EU’s engagement in regional maritime security in Asia. It stimulates important discussions among peers and consolidates networks forged during previous projects in Vietnam, while also helps identify evolving security challenges and build connections between important actors in global security.”

“Indeed, this is another concrete example of #TeamEurope in action,” Ambassador Guerrier added.

The Ambassador of France to Vietnam, H.E. Olivier Brochet, said: “Every year, a vessel from the French navy comes for a port call in Vietnam, not only a high point in Franco-Vietnamese cooperation, but also a demonstration of France's attachment to freedom of movement and circulation on the high seas, and to the protection of common spaces. For 2024, the French navy surveillance frigate Vendémiaire is having a port call in Da Nang from April 11 to 15, an ideal opportunity to host this roundtable onboard.”

Commanding Officer of FS Vendémiaire Commander Sébastien Drouelle said: “We are proud to host this dialogue on board. Especially in today’s context, sharing information with peers is vital in forging a common response to ensure the respect of international laws and the freedom of navigation.”

The EU’s maritime security initiatives in the region include CRIMARIO, that contributes to enhancing maritime domain awareness through information sharing, capacity building and training in the Indo-Pacific. IORIS is a maritime operational coordination and communications platform which enhances interagency collaboration at the national and regional levels.

ATALANTA plays a vital role in the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy and EU's Naval Diplomacy for the Indo-Pacific. While ASPIDES is an EU military operation in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Gulf.

ESIWA: The ESIWA project is co-funded by the European Union, the German Federal Foreign Office, and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. It works to enhance the EU’s security and defence cooperation with the Indo-Pacific in four thematic areas: counterterrorism and preventing violent extremism, crisis management, cyber security, and maritime security. The project is co-implemented by the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) & Expertise France.

ESIWA’s activities in maritime security aim to promote a fair, transparent, rules-based maritime order, strengthen maritime responses to security challenges, and enhance visibility of the EU as a maritime security provider.

Previous ESIWA activities in Vietnam include series of trainings and pre-departure workshops given by its cooperant seconded to the Vietnamese Department for Peacekeeping Operations (VNDPKO), preparing personnel to be deployed to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei, UN Staff Officers’ Course, and the European Union Training Mission in the Central African Republic, among others.

For more information, please contact:

Bich VIEN
Press & Information Officer
Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam
Bich.VIEN@eeas.europa.eu 
 
NHAN Thi My Ngoc
Press & Communications Department, French Embassy in Vietnam
ngoc.nhan-thi-my@diplomatie.gouv.fr 

Estelle PERALDI
Supply Officer of the FNS Vendémiaire
estelle.peraldi@intradef.gouv.fr 
 
Rahul VENKIT
Communications & Visibility Expert
Enhancing the EU’s Security Cooperation In and With Asia (ESIWA) project
rahul.venkit@expertisefrance.fr