Vietnam's 10-year journey of participating in UN peacekeeping operations

Over the past years, defense diplomacy has achieved many great achievements, contributing to the cause of national construction and protection, enhancing Vietnam's strength, prestige and position in the international arena.

The 10-year journey of participating in UN peacekeeping activities is a bright spot in Vietnam's foreign policy of "bamboo diplomacy " in general, and Vietnam's defense diplomacy in particular, with many meaningful and proud marks.

Thoroughly implementing the policies of the Party, State and Army, especially Resolution No. 22-NQ/TW dated April 10, 2013 of the Politburo on international integration, Resolution No. 806-NQ/QUTW dated December 31, 2013 of the Central Military Commission on international integration and defense diplomacy, Vietnam has sent forces to participate in UN peacekeeping operations to consistently implement the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, demonstrating that Vietnam is a responsible member of the international community.

This is a major policy, a correct foreign policy, with the participation of the entire political system, especially the completion of the legal basis for Vietnam's participation in UN peacekeeping activities.

Participating in UN peacekeeping activities is a concrete step to realize Resolution 806-NQ/QUTW, clearly stated in the 2019 Vietnam National Defense White Paper: "defending the country early and from afar by peaceful means; creating and strengthening trust in protecting national and ethnic interests; ensuring equality and mutual benefit; maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for national development; combining national strength with the strength of the times, creating a comprehensive strength, enhancing the country's international position and independence and autonomy" and "Vietnam continues to make substantial contributions and expand the scope of participation in UN peacekeeping activities".

Looking back over the past 10 years, Vietnam's UN peacekeeping force has continuously grown, expanded steadily, systematically and professionally, and made practical contributions to world peace, with many proud and encouraging results.

In June 2014, the Ministry of Defense sent the first two officers to serve as liaison officers at the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

In 2018, Vietnam deployed its first Field Hospital Unit 2 (63 personnel) to UNMISS; in 2022, the first Engineer Team (184 personnel) was deployed to the United Nations Interim Security Mission in Abyei (UNISFA), an area located between Sudan and South Sudan.

In the same year, Vietnam sent the first three police officers to participate in UN peacekeeping operations.

In 2020, Vietnam had its first officer from the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department who passed the UN tests to become a seconded officer working at the UN headquarters in New York (USA).

From June 2014 to April 2024, Vietnam sent 803 officers and professional soldiers (including 7 police officers) to participate in UN peacekeeping activities at the UNMISS Mission, the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and the EU Training Mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM RCA), the UNISFA Mission and the UN headquarters as individuals and units, including 5 field hospital squads and 2 squads of the Engineering Team.

Currently, Vietnam is ranked 39th out of 117 countries sending troops and police with 274 troops regularly deployed in field missions, including 36 female soldiers.

The performance of Vietnamese individuals and units was highly appreciated by UN leaders and Mission commanders. UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised the efforts and contributions of Vietnamese peacekeeping forces at missions in his congratulatory message on the occasion of the 75th National Day (September 2020).

Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Deputy Secretary-General, highly appreciated Vietnam's active participation and good results in UN peacekeeping activities as well as Vietnam's commitments in implementing UN goals and targets.

The UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations shared that he had directly witnessed and was very impressed when seeing the Vietnamese Engineering Team successfully completing the difficult tasks assigned to them at the UNISFA Mission.

Meanwhile, UN Deputy Secretary-General Atul Khare expressed his admiration for Vietnam's efforts and contributions, especially the deployment of level-2 field hospitals to participate in UN peacekeeping operations since 2018.

This success demonstrates a strong commitment, affirming Vietnam's efforts; it is a wonderful thing in the partnership between Vietnam and the UN.

In addition, UN leaders have repeatedly praised and appreciated Vietnam's contributions to promoting gender equality, especially the high rate of female soldiers participating in UN peacekeeping forces, meeting and exceeding the criteria set by the UN. Vietnam's participation in UN peacekeeping operations has always been recognized and highly appreciated by the government and people of the host country.

It can be affirmed that the deployment of forces to participate in UN peacekeeping operations is a wise policy of the Party and State, a step to deepen the defense foreign policy of the Vietnam Army.

Vietnam's participation and contribution to the world peace mission helps affirm Vietnam as a responsible member of the international community; enhances Vietnam's position, prestige and role in resolving international issues; creates favorable conditions to promote international cooperation on both bilateral and multilateral levels; strengthens strategic trust, maintains a peaceful and stable environment for national development.

In addition, this activity contributes to affirming the prestige of the Vietnam People's Army; serving the work of strategic research and forecasting and improving the qualifications of Vietnamese officials; taking advantage of international support for training, investment, and modernization of a number of facilities and equipment serving Vietnam's UN peacekeeping operations; contributing to proactively building forces and readiness to respond to and resolve non-traditional security challenges such as natural disasters, epidemics, floods, etc. in the country when situations arise.

Participating in the UN peacekeeping force has truly become a bright spot in Vietnam's defense foreign policy, contributing to affirming the prestige and position of the country in general, the Vietnam People's Army and the Vietnam People's Public Security in particular in the international arena, while also exuding the unique features of defense foreign policy in the Ho Chi Minh era, imbued with the ideology of "Vietnam's bamboo diplomacy".

Participation in UN peacekeeping activities conveys Vietnam's foreign defense message in international relations, which is: Vietnam loves peace, does not want war, is ready to be a friend and a reliable partner with countries around the world, and is a responsible member of the international community; Vietnam does not interfere in the internal affairs of countries, advocates resolving disagreements by peaceful means on the basis of fundamental principles of international law, political trust, and ensuring the principles of respect for independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

With outstanding achievements over the past 10 years, the image of Vietnamese peacekeepers has been spreading greatly not only to the people in the country, but also to the international community and local people in countries where our forces are deployed.

The participation of the Vietnam People's Army in UN peacekeeping operations at missions has left a good impression on the image of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" in the new era, always demonstrating great courage, self-reliance, and a flexible and creative approach in carrying out tasks and overcoming difficulties; especially the closeness, attachment, and wholehearted help to local people, creating the image of Vietnam's "blue beret" force as truly "messengers of peace and friendship".

According to VNA/Vietnam+

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