The economic component of Vietnam and Australia's upgraded partnership will help Vietnam achieve its green energy ambitions and grant Australia greater access to one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing markets, while the defense component portends increased bilateral cooperation on efforts aimed at improving maritime security in the region. Australia and Vietnam upgraded their bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, Vietnam's top-tier diplomatic designation, on March 7. The upgrade occurred after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met bilaterally following an Australia-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, which ran from March 4-6. This development also follows a memorandum of understanding on energy and mineral cooperation that Australia and Vietnam signed at the same venue on March 6....
