The doctrine on Fatherland protection is one of the great contributions of V.I. Lenin to the international communist and worker movements both theoretically and practically. Therefore, criticising its anti-arguments, while supplementing, developing and creatively applying the theory to the current cause of national defence is of great importance.

Lenin built his doctrine of defending the Socialist Fatherland basing on the inheritance and creative development of ideas of K. Marx and F. Engels about arming the mass and defending revolutionary achievements. When the Russian October Revolution (1917) was successful, the world's first socialist state was founded, Russian worker class and working people became the masters of their homeland. From the reality of the Revolution, V.I. Lenin asserted: "To take power is difficult, but it is even much more difficult to keep it" and "A revolution is only valid when it knows how to defend itself, but not always a revolution knows immediately how to so". According to V.I. Lenin, the important thing deciding the existence of the socialist Fatherland is to protect political, economic, cultural and social factors, first and foremost the Soviet Government, the Bolshevik Party, the proletarian democratic regime, in which, the protection of the socialist republic state must be put on top. Lenin pointed out that: all the forces of the people must be mobilised for that struggle; the whole country must become a revolutionary front and "victory depends on the morale of the masses that are shedding their blood on the battlefield". He paid special attention to building and consolidating national defence both in terms of potential and posture. His thought on defending the Fatherland is also shown in a number of important contents, such as: the role of the socialist rear; uniting and promoting the role of international forces, of diplomatic, cultural, scientific and technical fronts in the world in the protection of the Fatherland, etc.

Values ​​and vitality of the theory not only strengthened and enhanced the scientific, revolutionary nature of Marxism, but also directed the protection of the first peasant state in Russia; defeated the anti-revolutionary war conducted by domestic hostile forces in collusion with 14 imperialist countries; notably the great victory of the Soviet Union in World War 2. Currently, although the socialist system in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe has collapsed, the ideological values ​​in the theory still assert the correctness of principles on Fatherland protection established by V.I. Lenin. Once defence is neglected, and the requirements and principles of Fatherland protection are not complied with, socialist regime will soon collapse.

Persistent with and creatively apply Lenin’s theory in the specific situation of Vietnam, during the revolutionary periods, our Party always pay due attention to the viewpoints, lines and strategies for Fatherland protection and considers this an important part of the leadership lines. Immediately after the victory of the August Revolution in 1945, declaring to the world the inevitability and legitimacy of the task of defending the revolutionary achievements, President Ho Chi Minh affirmed that: “Vietnam has the right to freedom and independence, and in fact has become a free and independent country. The entire Vietnamese people are determined to bring all their spirit and force, lives and wealth to maintain that freedom and independence”. Under the leadership of the Party and Uncle Ho, our people won the wars of aggression, abolished the feudal colonial regime, fulfilled the cause of national liberation, unification, and carried out the cause of renewal, building socialism and firmly defending the independence of the Fatherland in all circumstances.

In the context of globalisation, international integration, our Party has acquired new approach and developments to the notion of protecting the Socialist Fatherland, which is not limited to protecting independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, against the invasion from outside, but also includes protecting the Party, State, People and socialist regime. The Party's thinking is developed in a comprehensive and deeper manner, demonstrating the Party's determination in the implementation of two strategic tasks of Vietnamese revolution, meeting the requirements of sustainable development and firmly defending the Fatherland for the purpose of rich people, strong, democratic, equal and civilised. The Central Resolution 8 (11^th tenure) on "Strategy for Fatherland protection in the new situation" stipulates that: Being consistent with the goal of national independence and socialism. Maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for socio-economic development is the highest benefit of the country; at the same time, always raise vigilance, defeat all invasive schemes and activities of hostile forces, not to be left passive or surprised in any situations. Resolution of the 13^th Congress of the Party, affirms: “Resolutely and persistently defend firmly the independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity of the Fatherland; protect the Party, State, People and the socialist regime ... Actively prevent risks of war and conflicts early and from afar; detect early and promptly handle adverse factors; strengthen the struggle to defeat all plans and acts of sabotage of the hostile forces”.

Currently, taking advantage of the collapse of real socialism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, the thinkers of the bourgeoisie and political opportunists, revisionists of Marxism-Leninism have propagated, distorted and attacked drastically on the ideological and theoretical system of Marxism – Leninism in general, Lenin’s theory on socialist Fatherland protection, in particular. They deny all the core values ​​of the doctrine that V.I. Lenin pointed out in a series of issues, such as: the objective indispensability, goals and methods of protecting the Socialist Fatherland; measures to strengthen the country's defence capability; building an all-people, comprehensive and modern defence; establishing military organisations, building new-style army; the relationship between construction and protection of the socialist Fatherland, etc. At the same time, they praised and encouraged the issues, such as: we just need economic development; cold war is over, the world is without war; all-people state, a common European home; a neutral army, the army should only defends the Fatherland, not the regime, etc. Implementing the goal of countering Vietnamese revolution, hostile forces employed a number of tricks, both armed and "unarmed", especially the strategy of "Peaceful evolution", promoting internal "self-evolution", and “self-transformation More dangerously, some people, due to their misconception of imperialism's "good will", have not seen all the dangers to the country and the regime; are not aware of the unity between national independence and socialism, hence underestimating the task of strengthening national defence and Fatherland protection; not fully aware of the dialectical relationship between building and defending the Socialist Fatherland.

Therefore, criticising the anti-arguments, supplementing, developing and creatively applying Lenin’s theory in the current cause of national defence, it is necessary to well implement the following solutions:

Firstly, continue to thoroughly grasp and strictly implement the Politburo's Resolution No. 35-NQ/TW dated October 22, 2019 (12^th tenure) "On strengthening the protection of the Party's ideological foundation, fighting against the wrong and hostile views in the new situation”, with practical and specific contents and measures. Promote political propaganda and education, ideological leadership to make Marxism-Leninism theory, including the Lenin’s theory on Fatherland protection and Ho Chi Minh's thought become a solid spiritual foundation in social life, and the Party's and State's lines, views and thoughts on national defence penetrate deeply into the social life, becoming the spiritual foundation and ideological orientation for the cause of Fatherland defence.

Second, continue to conduct research and review to clarify theoretical and practical bases, supplement and complete the theoretical system of national defence, apply and creatively develop Lenin’s theory to make it relevant to the new situation. Affirm and concretise the basic issues on the goals and tasks of national defence; organising and encouraging the entire Party, people and army to create a synergy to defend the Fatherland.

Third, regularly thoroughly grasp the Party's lines and undertakings, the State's policies and laws on Fatherland protection; forecast correctly the regional and world situation; correctly identify strategic situations, identify the right "adversary", "partner" in order not to be passive and unexpected in the task of Fatherland protection; have plan to prevent the risk of war and conflict from early and far away.

Fourth, strengthen defence and security potentials; focus on building the People's Army and Public Security revolutionary, regular, elite, and gradually modernised with a number of forces being developed straight to modernisation to create a solid premise for maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for national development.

Fifth, improve the resistance for all classes of people, especially the young generation so that they can clearly identify the reactionary and anti-scientific nature, and proactively fight against wrong and hostile arguments. Promote the role of organisations and forces, especially the core force in the fight against wrong views, defending and developing the theory in accordance with the Party's orientation.

Protect, supplement and develop the Lenin’s theory on national defence, contributing to firmly defending the ideological foundation of the Party is an important task of the entire Party, people, army and the entire political system; in which, those working in ideological, theoretical, and journalism sectors are the core to put Lenin’s thoughts into reality in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland in our country today.

Senior Colonel, PhD. HA DUC LONG, Political Academy, Ministry of National Defence