Delicious cuisine, UNESCO heritage sites, rich culture, impactful history, breathtaking mountain ranges and miles of coastline, make it easy to see why Vietnam is a tourist hotspot year after year. In fact, tourism has and continues to be a core component utilised in propping up the Vietnamese economy. Whilst Vietnam quite clearly boasts a strong allure to likes of you and I, from a geopolitical point of view, Vietnam extends its appeal towards the big players in the current political arena, including the U.S. and Russia.
Although, at one point, it seemed impossible, the U.S. and Vietnam have formulated a strategic relationship in recent years, a relationship which the U.S. does not want to lose especially when factoring in the context of China. Therefore, with this seed already planted in the mind of the American political system, when considering the news of meetings between Russia and Vietnam, then fear will inevitably grow amidst U.S. figures.
The reaction following Putin’s visit to Vietnam appears to be a direct example of the U.S. protecting its own interests and thus vocalising their concerns towards any measure, which does not align with said U.S. interests. Therefore, if the U.S. is prioritising its own interests and putting itself first, does it not make sense that Vietnam would do the same thing for their land and people alike? Yes, Vietnam remains neutral on the global political and military stage but it also is intelligent enough to remain realistic too.
The reality is that to date, the approach of ‘bamboo diplomacy’ appears to be working for Vietnam. Vietnam has been able to welcome three major figures in recent months from the U.S., China and Russia, proving its unique ability to juggle diverse political bodies in order to retrieve diverse benefits from all three powers. The relationships not only represent a balance achieved via neutrality but also signify the triumph of Vietnam and its ability to foster three strategic partnerships. You only need to consider the stats, which speak for themselves - Vietnam has been able to maintain its relationship with Russia, its biggest arms supplier and China, its largest trading partner all whilst upgrading its relationship with the U.S. Last year, due to increased interest in Vietnam from companies like Apple, the country boasted an impressive $36.6 bn of foreign investment.
Therefore, not only was it important for Vietnam to host Russia from a ‘strategic’ point of view but it is also a matter of principle to reiterate Vietnam’s neutral stance whilst honouring a lasting historical relationship.
The key theme here is ‘strategy,’ and when we consider this within the realm of the U.S. their priorities are a far cry from those of Vietnam. In relation to Russia it fits the strategic campaign of the U.S. to have Russia isolated in the global landscape, however, a meeting with Vietnam fails for this plan of ostracisation to come off the ground. When we consider said plan of ostracisation once again the driving force for the U.S. is strategy rather than a moral calling because if the U.S. were guided by some sort of moral compass then they would be calling for the ostracisation of Israel and their brutal destruction of Palestine.
Therefore, the issue I have with the U.S. statements of concern towards Vietnam lies in the lack of U.S. self-awareness and its failure to question its own global partnerships, which are far from neutral when we consider its continual aid propelled towards Israel. Condemning Vietnam whilst seemingly neglecting their own global relations and partnerships indicates a blatant example of hypocrisy.
Image: Vietsui
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