    |
 |
|
Colonel Vu Thi Lien (second from left) at the ceremony to hand over the President’s decisions on sending officers to serve at UNLOPS |
As the Lunar New Year faded, Col. Lien resumed her duties in Brussels, Belgium, home to many E.U. institutions. She serves as a Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) expert at UNLOPS, having secured the role through international competition. Her appointment marks a milestone in the Vietnam People’s Army’s multilateral defense integration.
From field missions to international policy planning
Before her Brussels post, Colonel Vu Thi Lien served two years with the European Union Training Mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM RCA), advising and coordinating local force training. This conflict-affected environment provided her professional experience and insights into the links between policy planning, capacity building, and stability.
Field mission duties differ greatly from those at international policy institutions. While field operations involve direct training and support in challenging security environments, organizations like UNLOPS focus on policy analysis, monitoring international defense initiatives, and facilitating multilateral coordination.
|
|
 |
|
Vu Thi Lien and international colleagues at EUTM RCA in 2024 |
While field missions represent peacekeeping’s operational side, UNLOPS serves as a strategic link between policy institutions and ground activities. By facilitating dialogue, the office strengthens cooperation among the U.N., the E.U., NATO, and other partners in addressing peace and security.
This expert position requires field experience, international policy analysis skills, and an in-depth understanding of U.N. peacekeeping and the security structures of the E.U. and NATO. Candidates must effectively research and synthesize complex policy issues.
Operating in multinational settings also demands effective communication, civil–military coordination, and professional networking. These skills are essential for advisory and coordination tasks within multilateral frameworks.
According to Col. Lien, her previous international missions allow her to understand how policy translates into field operations. Working in Brussels, a hub for the E.U., NATO, and international policy, requires high professional standards, multi-perspective analysis, and rapid adaptation to multilateral work paces.
|
|
 |
|
Vu Thi Lien performing duties in the Central African Republic in 2024 |
She noted that the multilateral setting in Brussels requires a combination of practical experience and policy-oriented thinking, presenting both challenges and opportunities for Vietnamese officers to continue learning and demonstrating their capabilities in international cooperation.
Connecting international peace and security cooperation mechanisms
Brussels-based UNLOPS serves as the U.N. focal point for European peace and security. The office connects the U.N. with the E.U., NATO, and partners to facilitate policy dialogue and political coordination.
Representing U.S. Secretariat departments like DPPA, DPO, DOS, and UNOCT, UNLOPS also collaborates closely with the Executive Office of the U.N. Secretary-General.
|
|
 |
|
Vu Thi Lien in a relaxing moment with trainees after training hours in the Central African Republic |
The Vietnamese female peacekeeper’s responsibilities are primarily strategic and advisory. She monitors and analyzes E.U. security and defense initiatives, including the CSDP and PESCO frameworks. Her work involves studying E.U. and NATO interactions with U.N. peacekeeping while establishing military focal point networks between the U.N., E.U., and NATO to enhance staff-level coordination.
Additionally, she prepares analytical briefings on U.N.-E.U. peace and security interactions to support policy dialogues. This role demands rigorous analysis, policy-oriented thinking, and the ability to bridge civil–military perspectives within a complex international environment.
Vietnamese women in peacekeeping missions
The U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) underscores women's vital roles in conflict prevention, management, and resolution. Vietnam actively implements these commitments, with Vietnam People’s Army female personnel taking increasingly visible roles in U.N. peacekeeping operations.
|
|
 |
|
Vu Thi Lien at her office at the UNLOPS headquarters |
After a decade, Vietnam’s female deployment rate exceeds 16 percent, surpassing the average of many troop-contributing countries. This reflects the consistent policy of the Party, the State, and the military to promote women while demonstrating Vietnam’s growing capacity in international security mechanisms.
Col. Lien emphasized that women’s participation enhances the quality and sustainability of peacebuilding. She noted Vietnam’s increasing pro-activity in multilateral defense cooperation, affirming her role in representing the image of Vietnamese women and female officers of the Vietnam People’s Army.
Her work highlights the professionalism of Vietnamese officers in international environments. This balance of determination, openness, and flexibility defines modern Vietnamese women in the military, who integrate globally while maintaining strict principles and responsibility.
|
|
 |
|
Colonel Vu Thi Lien giving lucky money to her colleague on the Lunar New Year |
The experiences of Vietnamese female officers serving at peacekeeping missions and international policy environments continue to convey messages of professionalism, dedication, and responsibility. Their growing presence in global peace and security mechanisms not only reflects the development of individual capabilities but also underscores Vietnam’s increasingly pro-active role in regional and global security cooperation.
Translated by Tran Hoai