In the context of deepening international integration and defence diplomacy, Vietnam has continuously expanded cooperation, actively participated in multilateral mechanisms, promoted dialogue, built strategic trust, and enhanced its international position. Taking advantage of this process, hostile forces have intensified the propaganda promoting the rhetoric of “neutralising” the Military with sophisticated interpretations that easily breed misconceptions. Therefore, identifying and fighting to refute this rhetoric is an urgent requirement at present.

In the context of deepening globalisation and international integration, Vietnam remains steadfast in implementing its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, and development; simultaneously, it proactively expands relations towards multilateralisation and diversification, based on the principle of being a friend and a reliable partner to the international community. In this regard, defence diplomacy plays a vital role, aiming to establish and develop defence relations with other countries based on the principles of equality and mutual respect, thereby effectively serving the tasks of building the Military, consolidating national defence, and protecting the Fatherland; at the same time, contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment in the region and the world.

However, with insidious schemes, hostile forces have thoroughly exploited this issue to continuously distort facts and demand the “neutralisation” of the Military, using both direct and indirect arguments, such as: “the military must stay out of politics for more favourable and effective integration”; “defence cooperation requires the military to be neutral”; or “the military should only serve the nation, not attached to any political force”, etc. These expressions easily cause misconceptions, with the ultimate goal of “depoliticising” the Military.

First, it is necessary to clearly understand that “neutrality” in international relations means not participating in military alliances, not taking sides in conflicts between nations, and maintaining a balanced foreign policy to protect national interests. This belongs to the country’s foreign policy guidelines, reflecting its behaviour in the international environment. Meanwhile, “neutralisation” of the Military directly relates to the political nature and the leadership mechanism of the Party over the Military.

Reality shows that there is no such thing as an “absolutely neutral” military standing outside of politics. In essence, the military is always an instrument of violence, serving the political purposes of a specific class or state. The political nature of the military is clearly concentrated in its combat objectives, force organisation, leadership and command mechanisms, and its functions and duties; it also depends on the political viewpoints and guidelines of the class, state, or political party that organises the military. Regardless of its form, the military always bears the nature of the ruling class and must submit to a defined leadership institution based on a specific political foundation. There is no generic, non-class military standing outside of politics. This demonstrates that the so-called “neutralisation” of the military is completely irrational and unrealistic.

From this perspective, it can be affirmed that international integration does not require the “neutralisation” of the military; on the contrary, it demands that the Military be led more strictly. Integration means expanding relations and encountering various value systems and organisational models. In such an environment, without a clear political foundation, military cadres and soldiers can easily waver and lose their direction. Furthermore, international integration in the defence sector is not merely cooperation, it is a process of both cooperation and struggle. The Military participating in integration must have the capacity to distinguish between partners and adversaries, the fortitude to selectively absorb experiences, and the determination not to be swayed by erroneous views that are detrimental to national interests. These requirements cannot be met if the Military is politically “neutralised”. Therefore, vigilance is needed against the argument that the military needs to be “neutral” in defence diplomacy and international integration. Equating these two issues is an intentional misinterpretation that must be resolutely fought against and refuted.

Vietnam peacekeepers participate in the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA)

The Vietnam People’s Army is organised, led, and trained by the Communist Party of Vietnam, bearing the revolutionary nature and remaining absolutely loyal to the Fatherland, the Party, the State, and the People. The Party’s leadership is the decisive factor ensuring the Military maintains its combat objectives and ideals, and unifies its will and actions. In the context of deep international integration, upholding the principle of the Party leading the Military absolutely, and directly in all aspects becomes critically important, because integration not only opens up development opportunities but also increases the level of mutual influence, penetration, and domination among nations in various fields, especially politics, defence-security, and ideology. This interweaving of interests and intersection of values can easily give rise to risks of “deviation” in perception, wavering stances, or even being influenced by viewpoints and military organisational models that differ from the nature and goals of the Vietnam People’s Army. Therefore, within the integration environment, where cooperation coexists with struggle, and expanding relations must go hand in hand with maintaining independence and self-reliance, the Party’s leadership over the Military is not only a factor ensuring correct political orientation but also the decisive factor in maintaining the revolutionary nature, enhancing resilience against external impacts, and ensuring the Military remains steadfast and unified in will and action in all situations.

Our Party’s viewpoint on defence diplomacy has been defined consistently, clearly, and with a long-term strategic orientation. Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW, dated 16 April 2018, of the Political Bureau (12th tenure) on the Vietnam National Defence Strategy affirms: using defence diplomacy as an important tool to resolve disputes, protect sovereignty and national interests; creating political advantage amidst all situational fluctuations, contributing to regional peace and stability. Through defence diplomacy, Vietnam proactively handles international relations related to defence and security; contributes to the peaceful settlement of disputes; and firmly upholds sovereignty and national interests. This viewpoint simultaneously sets forth a consistent requirement: the implementation of defence diplomacy must always be placed under the absolute, direct, and comprehensive leadership of the Party, ensuring unity between national defence objectives and the nation’s political and diplomatic objectives.

The implementation reality in recent years has vividly and persuasively demonstrated the correctness of this viewpoint. Vietnam has continuously expanded and deepened defence cooperation relations with over 100 countries and international organisations, including the five Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council and all major powers. Notably, these relations are designed, guided, and operated based on clear political orientation, directly serving the strategic interests of the country. The content of cooperation is increasingly comprehensive and in-depth, ranging from defence policy dialogue, strategic consultation, and delegation exchanges at various levels, to cooperation in training, defence industry, military medicine, and addressing  war consequences, etc. All of this reflects a reality: defence diplomacy is not a “neutral space”, but a field that demonstrates the political steadfastness, strategic thinking, and the art of handling international relations of our Party and State.

On the multilateral level, Vietnam’s imprint has become increasingly prominent, assuming a proactive, active, and responsible role in regional and international defence-security mechanisms and forums. Vietnam’s participation and role promotion in conferences and dialogues such as ADMM, ADMM+, the Shangri-La Dialogue, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, or the Moscow Conference on International Security... are not only aimed at enhancing information exchange and professional cooperation, but more importantly, Vietnam’s voice on the peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for international law, and ensuring the balance of interests among parties... is expressed clearly and consistently. This is a direct manifestation of the political character in defence diplomacy and international integration.

Another typical example is the Vietnam People’s Army’s participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations. With thousands of cadres and personnel deployed on missions, along with field hospitals in South Sudan and an engineering team in the Abyei region, Vietnam has not only contributed expertise, technical support, or humanitarian aid, but also clearly demonstrated the political responsibility of an active and responsible member state of the international community. Thereby, the image of the country, its people, and the Vietnam People’s Army has been increasingly affirmed, and its prestige and position in the international arena have been constantly elevated. This reality shows that the deeper the participation in international mechanisms, the more the Military’s activities need to demonstrate clear political steadfastness, placed under the absolute, direct, and comprehensive leadership of the Party; only then can the Military successfully fulfill all tasks, contributing to the effective implementation of the Party’s foreign policy and the best protection of national interests.

On the other hand, through defence diplomacy, Vietnam has also effectively leveraged external resources to serve the construction and protection of the Fatherland: from cooperation in training high-quality human resources, transferring technology, and enhancing defence industry capabilities, to cooperation in addressing  war consequences. These results not only contribute to strengthening defence potential but also directly consolidate the socio-political foundation and enhance the country’s comprehensive strength. Simultaneously, defence diplomacy serves as an important channel for Vietnam to proactively convey and clarify to international friends the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, multilateralisation, and diversification, as well as the “Four No’s” defence policy of the Party and the State.

From both theoretical and practical perspectives, it is clear that in defence diplomacy and international integration, there is no requirement for the Military to be neutral; on the contrary, in conditions of deep integration, the political element in these activities becomes increasingly prominent and plays a governing role. Politics here is not a subjective imposition but a strategic orientation, ensuring that all defence activities, including foreign affairs, always serve the highest goal of firmly protecting the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland. Therefore, rhetoric claiming that expanding defence cooperation and international integration requires the “neutralisation” of the Military are completely erroneous and must be resolutely fought against and refuted.

Colonel, Dr. CAO DUY DONG, Deputy Head of the Department of Party Work and Political Work, Political Officers College