New Thinking in Vietnamese Foreign Policy

Abstract

The end of the Cold War has forced Vietnam to change its foreign policy orientation. Vietnam is today behaving like a responsible member of the international community more than a trouble maker encouraging communist revolution in the region. Its foreign policy is aimed primarily at promoting economic development in the country but Vietnamese leaders are also mindful of the country's security needs. With the loss of Soviet support, in the aftermath of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Vietnamese leadership is relying on diplomatic means to preserve the country's security. It is seeking friendship and economic links with a large number of countries, including the United States, Japan and France. The leadership, however, believes that Vietnam's security interests are better served by befriending ASEAN. It hopes to use ASEAN's influence and clout to ward off possible aggression, especially from China.