Defending the Realm

: Dec 20, 2024 - : 10:26 pm

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Vietnam is serious about its military modernisation. The ongoing Vietnam International Defence Expo is the clearest indication of this intent at the highest levels of the Government and the Vietnamese military on the path forward, which will include the procurement of defence equipment from multiple security partners. The message has been clearly received by over 60 international delegations, more than 240 defence organisations and enterprises from 48 countries, who are present here in Hanoi.

“In the new period, the Vietnamese military remains at the forefront in building the whole-people defence posture and being the spearhead in addressing non-traditional security challenges. Notably, we not only carry out search and rescue operations but also perform international defence obligations,” Minister of National Defence, General Phan Van Giang.

A Push for Defence Modernisation

Delivering the opening speech prior to the start of the show, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said, “Vietnam advocates building a revolutionary, disciplined, elite, and modern army; building a strong enough defence potential to enhance the ability to defend and protect the country early, from afar, from the starting point. Vietnam has a strategic orientation to develop a proactive, self-reliant, self-reliant, dual-use, modern, and internationally integrated defence industry; prioritizing research, development, and application of advanced science and technology in the defence industry to optimize dual-use, both enhancing defense potential and developing the economy, serving the strategic interests of the country and the practical lives of the people.”

The Vietnamese military has a storied combat history and has used Russian (and previously ex-Soviet) supplied combat equipment to devastating effect in the past. However, it is now expected to accelerate the diversification of defence equipment and will also need to enhance and modernise its local defence ecosystem, which was built to operate, maintain and support Russian equipment. Russia and the USA are both jostling to emerge as a preferred defence supplier to Vietnam, while European nations in addition to Israel, Turkey, South Korea and India all have sizeable market opportunities awaiting them. The U.S. presence at the show was bolstered by the appearance of Admiral. Samuel J. Paparo, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, who highlighted the importance of the growing and deepening engagement with the Vietnamese military. Israel, Turkey, South Korea and India all have a sizeable number of national companies showcasing their wares at the show, with even Japan marking a presence at the show.

Vietnam has consistently pursued a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, and diversification of relations, which makes it clear that it will diversify its defence procurements.

‘Having experienced much pain, sacrifice and loss due to war, Vietnam understands and appreciates the value of friendship, for peace, cooperation and development,’ Prime Minister Chinh said, adding,’

Vietnam firmly adheres to the "four no's" defence policy - "no participation in military alliances, no ally with one country to fight against another, no allowing foreign countries to set up military bases or use its territory to fight against other countries, no use of force or threat of use of force in international relations.” It is keeping these tenets in mind, that the importance of Vietnam International Defence Expo comes to the fore as it was created with the aim of strengthening and expanding international defence cooperation, building trust with other countries and developing local defence industry.

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