United Nations peacekeeping operations and defense foreign policy contributions

Engineer Team No. 1 prepares vehicles and machinery before leaving for duty. (Photo: Trong Duc/VNA)

Vietnam's participation in UN peacekeeping operations since 2014 has contributed to affirming and concretizing the international integration policy and foreign policy of the Party and State, marking a new step of development in the process of international integration in Vietnam's defense; thereby affirming the role, responsibility, prestige and position of Vietnam, while protecting national and ethnic interests.

The Ministry of National Defense has identified participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations as a unified management of defense diplomacy, as a specific implementation of international integration in defense, in order to further promote bilateral and multilateral defense relations.

During the process of participating in UN peacekeeping operations, Vietnam's proactive selection of the form, scale, time, and location of deployment appropriate to our conditions and capabilities, while still ensuring national and ethnic interests, reflects the country's motto of international defense integration, which is "Active, proactive, certain, flexible, and effective."

This is demonstrated by Vietnam's participation in peacekeeping operations in an individual form first, while deploying, learning, accumulating experience and moving towards sending units, including a Level 2 Field Hospital to the UNMISS Mission (South Sudan) in 2018 and an Engineering Team to the UNISFA Mission (Abyei region) in 2022.

Participating in UN peacekeeping operations has made a very important contribution to international integration in defense in all aspects. This activity has contributed to enhancing the image, position and prestige of the Vietnam People's Army in particular and of Vietnam in general in the international arena; improving the capacity, courage and experience of the staff working in defense diplomacy, especially those directly participating in UN peacekeeping operations.

At the same time, through the successful deployment of forces to participate in United Nations peacekeeping, Vietnam has affirmed its commitment and responsibility for promoting peace and security in the region and the world; building trust with international partners and friends, and making substantial contributions to the common efforts for peace of the international community.

Vietnam's achievements in participating in United Nations peacekeeping activities have been highly appreciated by the United Nations and international friends, making an important contribution to Vietnam's election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council with a record number of votes and successfully assuming this position for the 2020-2021 term.

Officers of Engineering Team No. 1 and Level 2 Field Hospital No. 4 set out to carry out their mission. (Photo: Trong Duc/VNA)

To implement the content of international cooperation on peacekeeping, the Department of Foreign Affairs (Ministry of National Defense) has taken the lead in coordinating with relevant agencies to integrate peacekeeping contents into high-level contacts and exchanges between the Head of the Ministry of National Defense, the Head of the General Staff and foreign partners, thereby gradually institutionalizing specific cooperation activities in this field.

To date, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense has signed bilateral Memoranda of Understanding on United Nations peacekeeping cooperation with nine partner countries. Vietnam also signed a Framework Agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding on technical cooperation with the European Union, relating to peacekeeping cooperation.

During the preparation and deployment of forces, through bilateral defense cooperation channels, many partners have supported Vietnam in participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Based on the work of monitoring and advising each locality, on the basis of determining the capacity and friendliness of partners, the agencies and units of the Ministry of National Defense have advised and made correct and accurate proposals to the Central Military Commission and the Head of the Ministry of National Defense on specific areas that need to be promoted in the overall cooperation on peacekeeping, especially in areas where we are lacking or have no experience.

Notably, countries supported language training for Vietnamese officers and staff (English, French); the UK handed over to Vietnam the entire infrastructure of the Level 2 Field Hospital at the UNMISS mission (South Sudan); the US donated training equipment for the Level 2 Field Hospital; Australia regularly sent transport planes to Vietnam to transport Field Hospital teams to deploy at UNMISS...

With outstanding results over 8 years of participating in UN peacekeeping, it can be affirmed that this activity has become an inseparable part of Vietnam's international defense integration process, contributing to strengthening international cooperation in defense and security, serving the goals of defense diplomacy, the highest of which is national and ethnic interests; creating a favorable international environment, promoting political, economic and trade relations with countries, especially countries with potential, contributing to further enhancing the prestige and position of the country and the Vietnam People's Army in the international arena.

To make participation in UN peacekeeping operations more effective, it is necessary to continue to maximize bilateral relations as well as multilateral forums with partners, especially capable and experienced partners, to improve the qualifications of staff and strengthen the material facilities for Vietnam's peacekeeping forces. This is also a practical step to contribute to building a revolutionary, disciplined, elite, and gradually modern Vietnam People's Army.

According to VNA