Vietnam’s Defense: International Integration & “Four No’s”
28-06-2025
This video covers the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army, featuring remarks from the General Secretary and military leaders on defense challenges and opportunities. It also reports on the Vietnam National Defense Exhibition held at Gia Lam Airport.
Vietnam’s Defense Cooperation: Steadily Advancing on the Path of International Integration and the “Four No’s” Policy
Vietnam’s defense policy has always been consistent, rooted in the principles of self-defense, protecting independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and national interests. In a volatile global landscape, Vietnam has actively expanded defense cooperation with numerous countries worldwide, both to enhance its self-reliance and to contribute to maintaining peace and stability regionally and globally. This unequivocally demonstrates Vietnam’s independent, self-reliant, multilateral, and diversified foreign policy, alongside its unique “Four No’s” defense doctrine.
SPECIAL OUTLINE
Get an immediate grasp of our article’s core and structure through these key highlights:
Understand the foundational “Four No’s” policy guiding all of Vietnam’s foreign defense activities, emphasizing independence, non-alignment, and peaceful resolutions.
Explore the diverse and flexible forms of Vietnam’s defense cooperation, from high-level delegation exchanges and strategic dialogues to training, education, and technology transfer.
Discover Vietnam’s active participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations and its crucial role in addressing non-traditional challenges like disaster relief and war aftermath remediation.
Unveil the wide network of defense partners Vietnam has established, built on principles of equality and mutual benefit, across major powers and regional countries.
EMBRACE VIETNAM’S STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO PEACEFUL INTERNATIONAL INTEGRATION AND AN INDEPENDENT DEFENSE POSTURE DEFINED BY THE WISDOM OF THE “FOUR NO’S” POLICY!
Now! Let’s explore the strategic depths of Vietnam’s defense cooperation and its vision for global peace!
1. Vietnam’s Unique “Four No’s” Defense Policy
Before delving into specific cooperation relationships, it’s crucial to understand the foundational principles guiding all of Vietnam’s foreign defense activities: the “Four No’s” policy (also known as the “No Four” policy):
No military alliances: Vietnam does not participate in any military blocs, maintaining its independence in defense decisions.
No siding with one country against another: Vietnam never chooses sides or aligns with one nation to oppose another.
No allowing foreign countries to establish military bases or use its territory to oppose other countries: Sovereignty and territorial integrity are paramount; no foreign nation is permitted to establish bases or use Vietnamese territory for military purposes against a third party.
No using force or threatening to use force in international relations: Vietnam consistently advocates for resolving disputes through peaceful means, based on international law.
This policy clearly reflects Vietnam’s peaceful, self-defensive nature and its strategic vision for building a stable security environment, avoiding entanglement in geopolitical confrontations.
Vietnam and Russia maintain a long-standing defense cooperation as a key pillar of their comprehensive strategic partnership, primarily focused on military-technical ties and arms procurement.
Note: To learn about Vietnam’s Military Power, please click here!
2. Main Forms and Areas of Defense Cooperation
Vietnam’s defense cooperation is diverse and flexible, implemented at various levels and across numerous fields:
High-level delegation exchanges and strategic dialogues:
Fostering political trust and mutual understanding of security perspectives and interests.
Strengthening consultation mechanisms on regional and international security issues.
These exchanges serve as a foundation for building deeper cooperation relationships.
Training, education, and experience sharing:
Training officers and personnel at foreign military academies and schools.
Exchanging experts and instructors, sharing experiences in areas such as military medicine, information technology, electronic warfare, peacekeeping, and search and rescue.
Collaborating on military scientific research and defense technology development.
Defense industry and technology transfer:
Seeking and acquiring technologies for manufacturing, repairing, and maintaining weapons and military equipment.
Enhancing the self-reliance of Vietnam’s defense industry, reducing reliance on external supplies.
Vietnam prioritizes cooperation that enables it to domestically produce or upgrade existing military hardware.
Participation in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations:
This is a prominent highlight, demonstrating Vietnam’s responsibility and standing on the international stage.
Vietnam has deployed Level 2 Field Hospitals and individual officers to missions in South Sudan and the Central African Republic, directly contributing to stability and development in conflict zones.
Through these activities, Vietnam not only gains experience and enhances capabilities but also builds the image of a peace-loving, responsible nation.
Search and rescue, war aftermath remediation, and addressing non-traditional challenges:
Cooperating in disaster relief, epidemic response, and searching for missing persons.
Addressing war consequences (e.g., Agent Orange/dioxin detoxification, UXO clearance) is a top priority, receiving significant support from international partners.
Coordinating responses to common challenges such as terrorism, transnational crime, and cybersecurity.
Note: To learn about Vietnam’s Ground Forces, please click here!
3. Vietnam’s Key Defense Cooperation Partners
Vietnam has built a wide network of defense partners, including major powers and regional countries, based on principles of equality and mutual benefit:
Russia:
A traditional and comprehensive strategic partner.
The primary supplier of military weaponry and equipment (e.g., Su-30MK2 aircraft, Kilo-class submarines, S-300 systems, T-90 tanks).
Extensive cooperation in training, technology transfer, repair, and maintenance.
Remains the leading partner in modernizing the Vietnam People’s Army.
United States:
Cooperation has developed rapidly, especially since the upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September 2023.
Focus areas include maritime security (e.g., provision of patrol vessels), search and rescue, war aftermath remediation, UN peacekeeping, English language training, and exchange programs.
Reflects growing trust between two former adversaries.
Japan:
A deep strategic partner, focused on strengthening maritime law enforcement capabilities (e.g., providing patrol vessels), training, support for war aftermath remediation, and defense industrial cooperation in certain areas.
India:
A comprehensive strategic partner, emphasizing training, experience exchange, and defense industrial cooperation (especially in information technology and certain naval equipment).
South Korea:
A comprehensive strategic partner, cooperating in areas such as training, defense industry, and cybersecurity cooperation.
Israel:
Strong cooperation in defense technology, weapon upgrades, and training.
ASEAN Countries (Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, etc.):
Play a vital role in building regional security community through mechanisms like ADMM (ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting) and ADMM+ (expanded with dialogue partners).
Focus on information exchange, joint exercises, cooperation against terrorism, transnational crime, maritime security, and disaster relief.
China:
Maintains neighborly relations, with regular delegation exchanges and joint patrols along land and sea borders.
Cooperation in non-sensitive areas, but the level of trust and depth of cooperation remain limited due to existing issues.
Note: To learn about Vietnam’s Navy, please click here!
4. Conclusion: Vietnam’s defense cooperation is an indispensable part of its independent, self-reliant, and flexible foreign policy. Grounded in the “Four No’s” policy and supported by a wide network of partners, Vietnam is not only continuously enhancing its self-defense capabilities but also actively participating in the collective efforts of the international community for peace, stability, and development. This unequivocally affirms Vietnam’s rising stature as a responsible member of the global community.
