Vietnam diplomacy

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.

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

Pham Binh Minh's unusual mid-term departure leaves a vacuum in the country’s diplomatic leadership.

Vietnam’s proximity to China and lack of strategic depth limit its options in forming security partnerships with other great powers.

An elevation of relations is likely next year, when the two nations celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations. But will it be matched by substantive developments?

As has been the case for much of history, stable, manageable relations with China form the foundation of the country's foreign policy.

By refraining from condemning Russia’s attempts to annex four regions of Ukraine, the country signaled its continued prioritization of national interests over moral principles.

The country's hedging strategy has proved quite successful in recent decades but is under pressure from the growing strategic tensions in the region.

Is the phrase, increasingly prominent in government communications, anything more than an update to a discredited policy of neutrality?

Despite the growing depth and breadth of strategic ties between the two countries, Washington ranks surprisingly low in Hanoi's hierarchy of diplomatic designations.