UK to Upgrade Diplomatic Ties with Vietnam During Keir Starmer–To Lam Meeting

Britain is preparing to elevate its diplomatic relations with Vietnam to the highest level next week, when Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosts Vietnamese Communist Party chief To Lam in London.

The upgrade will raise ties to Vietnam’s top-tier “strategic comprehensive partnership,” placing the UK alongside a select group of countries that includes China, Russia, the United States, and France Vietnam’s former colonial ruler.

The decision reflects growing efforts by both nations to strengthen economic and security cooperation amid shifting global trade dynamics. The UK has been expanding its diplomatic footprint in Southeast Asia following its exit from the European Union, while Vietnam continues to diversify its foreign relations to balance major power influences.

The meeting between Starmer and To Lam is expected to cover trade, investment, climate collaboration, and regional security issues, including stability in the South China Sea. The upgrade comes as London seeks to bolster its engagement with Indo-Pacific partners under its “Global Britain” strategy.

No official statement has yet been released by either government, but both sides are expected to announce the formal elevation of ties following the meeting.