What role does ideology play in Vietnam’s foreign policy ?
Communist ideology is an important factor in the making of Hanoi’s foreign policy, but it is far from the only one.
Vietnam seeks safer maritime security partnerships
In March 2023, China and ASEAN resumed negotiations on the South China Sea (SCS) Code of Conduct, which aims to reduce the risk of conflict in the disputed maritime zone. But such progress has not calmed the situation. In February…
Vietnam government furious about release of Australian commemorative war coins
Vietnam’s communist government has demanded Australia cease issuing commemorative coins that, it says, show the flag of the toppled US-backed South Vietnam, a claim Canberra has denied.
Vietnam asks Australian firms to stop using flag of defunct regime
Vietnam has demanded that Australian state firms stop issuing products with images of a yellow flag from a regime that no longer exists.
Savvy Vietnam in a New Cold War sweet spot
SE Asian nation neither pro-US nor pro-China as communist regime leverages a ‘three no’s’ foreign policy to its multi-aligned benefit.
Is a US-Vietnam strategic partnership likely to happen soon ?
Despite auspicious diplomatic recent developments, an upgrade of the bilateral relationship remains unlikely, at least for now.
Blinken breaks ground on $1.2B US embassy compound in Hanoi
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken joined a ceremony Saturday to break ground on a $1.2 billion U.S. embassy compound in Hanoi.
Blinken to seek strategic upgrade of U.S.-Vietnam ties
Before attending a Group of Seven foreign ministers’ meeting in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be visiting Vietnam as Washington tries to elevate diplomatic ties with Hanoi and potentially pave the way for a visit…
Blinken to visit Vietnam this week
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Vietnam this week before heading to the G7 Ministers’ Meeting in Japan.
Vietnam may resist diplomatic upgrade with Washington as U.S.-China tensions simmer
A push by the United States to upgrade ties with Vietnam this year is facing resistance in Hanoi, over what experts say are concerns that China could see the move as hostile at a time of tension between superpowers Beijing…
Vietnam the epitome of a Belt and Road hedge
Unlike welcoming neighbors, Hanoi has staked out a mostly non-committal position on Beijing’s infrastructure-building policy.
Vietnam calls for end of violence in Myanmar
The Vietnamese Ambassador to the U.N. called all parties to exercise restraint, stop violence and dialogue to reach a peaceful solution to the Myanmar issue.
Vietnam-Australia relations at 50
The past half-century has witnessed a remarkable convergence of interests between the two nations, and there is a promise of closer cooperation to come.
Why Vietnam’s UN abstention on Ukraine was a rational move
The country’s domestic political structure emphasizes continuity in foreign policy, and changes its stance only when there is a clear benefit in doing so.
How a new Vietnam-Indonesia deal will affect South China Sea disputes
A recent agreement between Indonesia and Vietnam over maritime boundaries in the South China Sea will likely smooth over the occasionally tense relationship between the two South East Asian nations.
Vietnam and India are now acting to contain aggressive China
A silent change is taking place in Asia. Beijing’s unbridled territorial ambitions are compelling regional players to look for trustworthy partners. India, Japan, Vietnam and Australia seek to balance Chinese aggression through local partnerships. Deepening bilateral and multilateral ties is a natural…
Why Vietnam’s political shake-up will not affect its foreign policy
Two structural constraints, one international and one domestic, ensure a high degree of continuity in Hanoi’s external relations.
Foreign minister details six priorities of diplomatic sector in 2023
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has highlighted the six priorities the diplomatic sector will focus on in 2023, during a recent interview granted to the press.
Anti-American propaganda in Vietnam
Despite growing cooperation with Washington, an anti-U.S. streak runs deep among communist leaders and the general public alike.
China and Vietnam have a shared future, President Xi Jinping says in Lunar New Year note to fellow communist leader
Xi Jinping, who is also chief of the Chinese Communist Party, has greeted Vietnamese party counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong ahead of the Lunar New Year. Pledge to deepen ‘comrades and brothers’ relationship comes as China’s ties with the West, especially…
The careful balancing act of Vietnam’s bamboo diplomacy
The Vietnam–China relationship has not been in good shape in the last decade. So it was a surprise when Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, became the first foreign leader to visit China after the…
How Vietnam can balance against China, on land and at sea
Vietnam’s proximity to China and lack of strategic depth limit its options in forming security partnerships with other great powers.
Russia, Vietnam slowly but surely parting strategic ways
Hanoi is now openly diversifying its weaponry purchases away from Moscow, an emerging break driven by the war in Ukraine.
Voice of America removes story that embarrassed Vietnam’s prime minister
A story about undiplomatic comments by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh caught on a hot mic went viral — before the U.S.-funded news agency removed it following complaints from his embassy.
Why the current stall in US-Vietnam relations is necessary for Vietnam’s security
As has been the case for much of history, stable, manageable relations with China form the foundation of the country’s foreign policy.
Germany builds ties with Vietnam, hedging bets against China
As Germany looks to diversify its interests in Asia, Vietnam is emerging as an alternative manufacturing hub. Chancellor Scholz was in Hanoi to bolster trade and investment ties.