On 20 November, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited Algiers to elevate the two countries’ bilateral partnership, signing a Strategic Cooperation Declaration covering defence, security, counter-crime coordination, and enhanced military consultation, especially with regard to transnational organised crime.
Both countries pledged to participate into their respective defence exhibitions: Vietnam International Defence Expo (VIDEX) and Algiers International Fair (FIA/AIF) and the SECURA Algeria security exhibition. Vietnam welcomed Algeria’s entry into the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and its new status as the North African sectorial partner of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).
This new defence agreement was built upon by previous visits and bilateral cooperation in security: in November, shortly before the Prime Minister’s visit, a high-level delegation led by Deputy Minister of Public Security Pham The Tung met Secretary-General of the Algerian Ministry of Interior Mahmoud Djama to sign an agreement between the two Ministries on joint cooperation on countering crime, especially cybercrime, drug crime, money laundering, human trafficking and terrorism, and human security issues. In October, Algeria signed the UN Convention against Cybercrime in Hanoi, the world’s first-declaration against cyber-criminals, after playing a key role in its draft and negotiations. In April, an Algerian parliamentary delegation of the Vietnam-Algeria friendship group travelled to Vietnam, reinforcing institutional ties between the two legislatures.
Currently, two countries do not have a strong military or security partnership. However, Algiers and Hanoi are concerned about common security issues, especially transnational crime, as Vietnam has long been concerned with cybercrimes and criminal networks on its northern borders, whereas Algeria has to face rising terrorist threats from Sahel. Both countries have an interest in sharing good practices and strengthening their cooperation. Algeria seeks to expand its presence in the Pacific region to diversify its partners. Vietnam, which has over six decades of cooperation in oil and energy with Algeria, wants to maintain its partnership with Algiers.
According to the Vietnamese Department of Customs, between 2020 and 2024, bilateral trade averaged nearly $180 million per year, hitting a record $241mn in 2023. In the first 10 months of 2025 alone, two-way trade was estimated at $472 million, up 195% year-on-year.
Of this, Vietnam’s exports reached $465 million, while imports from Algeria were estimated at $7 million. Vietnam mainly exports coffee, cashew nuts, peppercorns, seafood, chemicals, footwear, garments, and steel to Algeria. In return, Algeria exports computers, electronic products and components, carob powder, chicken feet, and livestock feed to Vietnam.
Written by ADIT – The Bulletin and republished with permission.
