Geopolitical events
On June 20, 2026, Vietnam and the Philippines formalized the "Maritime Security and Cooperation Treaty," establishing a joint naval command and shared patrol protocols in the South China Sea. The agreement, signed in Hanoi, includes a framework for joint resource exploration and a mutual defense clause against maritime incursions. President Tô Lâm described the treaty as a "decisive step toward regional stability" and a strategic counterweight to shifting geopolitical pressures in the Indo--Pacific following the recent Manila Trilateral Defense Accord.