Vietnam foreign policy

The agreement, which will be signed later this year, coincides with the 30th anniversary of relations between the two countries.

There is little evidence that the country’s political landscape is divided into “pro-Chinese” and “pro-American” camps.

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.

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.

Two structural constraints, one international and one domestic, ensure a high degree of continuity in Hanoi's external relations.

Pham Binh Minh's unusual mid-term departure leaves a vacuum in the country’s diplomatic leadership.

An elevation of relations is likely next year, when the two nations celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations. But will it be matched by substantive developments?

The recent visit of Vietnam’s National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to Australia and New Zealand sheds new light on the country’s post-COVID foreign policy.

Despite some superficial similarities, the moral and humanitarian calculus of the two invasions are vastly different.

In matters of national security and national interests, Vietnamese leaders are pragmatists.

By refraining from condemning Russia’s attempts to annex four regions of Ukraine, the country signaled its continued prioritization of national interests over moral principles.

The country's hedging strategy has proved quite successful in recent decades but is under pressure from the growing strategic tensions in the region.