This year’s Shangri-La Dialogue takes place against a backdrop of overlapping security challenges. In that context,Việt Nam’s presence at the opening session carries significance beyond protocol. As Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm prepares to open this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue, the focus is not only on the symbolism of a high-level appearance, but also on the message the country may bring to the regional security conversation.
In a historic first, Việt Nam's Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm delivered a keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, becoming the first Vietnamese party chief and head of state to speak at Asia's premier security forum. He warned that the world is facing three fundamental crises: international order, development and strategic trust. To break down these messages, we're joined by Professor Alessio Patalano from King's College London.
At the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue, Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm’s keynote address touched upon key issues surrounding peace, stability and cooperation in the region, while the significance of Việt Nam’s presence was also widely reflected in international media coverage. Beyond the attention on individual leaders and major powers, this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue is also spotlighting whether dialogue itself can still prevent rivalry from turning into confrontation.
A key moment at the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premier defence summit, came when Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm delivered the summit’s keynote address, calling for a safer and more stable Asia-Pacific amid what he described as a period of “enormous turbulence".
Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm, accompanied by his spouse and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, begins an official visit to Thailand from 27-29 May. The visit is not only an opportunity for the two countries to review the remarkable achievements made after half a century of diplomatic relations, but it is also expected to help shape new strategic cooperation priorities for the next stage of bilateral ties.
The 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue takes place in Singapore from 29 May to 31 May. The 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue is focused on growing geopolitical uncertainty, from U.S.- China competition to the wider impact of conflicts in the Middle East. Analysts say this year summit could be one of the most significant in the forum’s history, as global tensions continue to rise.
This year’s Shangri-La Dialogue takes place against a backdrop of overlapping security challenges. In that context,Việt Nam’s presence at the opening session carries significance beyond protocol. As Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm prepares to open this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue, the focus is not only on the symbolism of a high-level appearance, but also on the message the country may bring to the regional security conversation.