Vietnam foreign policy

Communist ideology is an important factor in the making of Hanoi's foreign policy, but it is far from the only one.

What Hanoi needs from its relationship with Washington depends overwhelmingly on the state of China-Vietnam relations.

Despite auspicious diplomatic recent developments, an upgrade of the bilateral relationship remains unlikely, at least for now.

No matter how many international friends it has, Hanoi's international freedom of maneuver will be tightly constrained by China.

The kidnapping, which coincided with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Vietnam last week, highlights the gaps in interests and perceptions between Washington and Hanoi.

Washington wants to raise relations to the level of a "strategic relationship," but Vietnamese leaders are moving cautiously, in light of the likely reaction from China.

The agreement, which will be signed later this year, coincides with the 30th anniversary of relations between the two countries.

There is little evidence that the country’s political landscape is divided into “pro-Chinese” and “pro-American” camps.

The past half-century has witnessed a remarkable convergence of interests between the two nations, and there is a promise of closer cooperation to come.

The country’s domestic political structure emphasizes continuity in foreign policy, and changes its stance only when there is a clear benefit in doing so.

Two structural constraints, one international and one domestic, ensure a high degree of continuity in Hanoi's external relations.