The participation of Vietnam in defense-military mechanisms has affirmed the position of Vietnam in the region and the world. It has also contributed to the successful implementation of the country’s foreign policy of multilateralization and diversification of relations and the Party’s guideline on Vietnam’s active and proactive international integration.
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The Vietnamese high-ranking delegation (left) at the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Retreat, which was opened on November 17 in Bangkok, Thailand |
During more than 30 years implementing the “doi moi” (renewal) policy, Vietnam has promoted defense relations activities in both depth and width. In doing so, Vietnam’s defense sector has gradually integrated in the international arena.
Apart from strengthening bilateral defense relations with neighboring countries and traditional friends and partners, Vietnam has also actively joined multilateral mechanisms. This has helped heighten the role and position of Vietnam in solving common problems and shaping shared issues in the region, showing the country’s responsibility towards peace, stability and security in the world.
Remarkable results of the implementation of the foreign policy in the military include Vietnam’s active contribution to the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), the ADMM+, the ASEAN Regional Forum, Shangri-La Dialogue.
As for ADMM, Vietnam joined the mechanism in 2006 when it was first held in Malaysia. Then, as the chair of ASEAN in 2010, Vietnam successfully hosted the ADMM along with 16 other meetings. Especially, the ADMM+ proposed by the host then and held for the first time in Vietnam has become an important foundation for defense cooperation between ASEAN and other partners. The organization of the ADMM+ marked the birth of a promising regional security structure and an effective and substantial defense multilateral cooperation mechanism.
For ADMM+, Vietnam has actively contributed to working out solutions to matters of concern in the region and to promoting the multilateral defense cooperation mechanisms, such as ADSOM, ADSOM+ (ADSOM+WG), EWG, etc.
In the global sphere, Vietnam has taken part in various security and defense forums, such as the Xiangshan Forum, the Moscow Conference on International Security, the Meeting of EU Chiefs of Defense, the UN Chief of Defense Conference, and more. At those forums and conferences, Vietnam has contributed important initiatives to the establishment, operation and effectiveness of multilateral defense cooperation mechanisms. Vietnam is considered a country with clear political commitments and steps in the road-map to its participation in UN peacekeeping operations.
Not just participating in forums and conferences, Vietnam has also engaged in special field activities. The country proposed the establishment of the Sixth “Mine Action” Working Group and jointly hosted mine action events with India. Vietnam also joined hands with China in directing the Expert Group on “Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief,” and more. The military troops of Vietnam successfully took part in various field training exercises (FTX), including the FTX-2016 and FORCE-18 in India, the KOMODO Multilateral Naval Exercise, etc.
As for UN peacekeeping operations, Vietnam has shown its willingness for cooperation by practical actions. The country has sent tens of individual officers and two level-two field hospitals to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
Since Vietnam signed the EU-Vietnam Framework Participation Agreement (FPA) last October, the agreement has provided more favorable conditions for the country to send more troops and civilian workers to EU missions. As Ambassador-Head of EU Delegation to Vietnam Giorgio Aliberti said, this step in cooperation will help Vietnam further promote its capabilities and get itself more prepared for similar activities, especially in joining UN peacekeeping operations.
In being more active and proactive in joining multilateral mechanisms the Vietnam People’s Army has shown its responsibility towards contributing to and shaping regional mechanisms and forums. It has also helped heighten the position of Vietnam’s defense forces in the international arena.
Translate by Huu Duong