Workshop “Europe's Strategic Autonomy and Policy Implications for Vietnam”: Focus on 4 Main Topics

On October 23, the Institute for European and American Studies (Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences) organized a scientific workshop with the theme "Europe's strategic autonomy and policy implications for Vietnam", to share and receive comments and contributions from scientists and research experts.

Strategic autonomy – an important trend in Europe

The workshop attracted the participation of many experts and researchers. Delegates focused on discussing the trend of strengthening the strategic autonomy of the European Union (EU) in key areas, thereby recognizing the issues facing Vietnam's strategic autonomy in foreign affairs and economy .

Speaking at the workshop, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Chien Thang - Director of the Institute for European and American Studies said that in the context of globalization and economic, political and security fluctuations, strategic autonomy is becoming an important trend in Europe.

According to him, this trend is clearly demonstrated through the issuance of many policies and strategies by European countries to enhance independence and autonomy in the fields of defense, security and economy.

“About 10-20 years ago, the concept of strategic autonomy was quite strange. But now, it has become a prominent trend in the world ,” Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Chien Thang emphasized.

The workshop focused on discussing four main topics, including: the multi-layered index framework on the European Union's strategic defense autonomy; Italy's foreign policy and strategic autonomy in the context of global fluctuations; the EU's strategic autonomy on important raw materials; and issues facing Vietnam's strategic autonomy in foreign affairs and economy.

Overview of the workshop. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Chien Thang, the EU's strategic autonomy has now expanded from the security sector to other key areas such as economy, digital, energy, climate and migration. In recent times, at the union level, the EU has issued and implemented many policies to strengthen the bloc's strategic autonomy.

Speaking at the workshop, Dr. Nghiem Tuan Hung - Center for Strategic and International Security Studies said that in the context of an increasingly uncertain international order and increasing power competition between major powers, the European Union is facing pressure to reposition its security and defense role more independently from traditional partners such as the US.

According to him, the concept of strategic autonomy has become a key orientation in the EU's foreign and security policy since the mid-2020s. Strategic autonomy in EU defense is mainly discussed at the political and legal level, and can be quantified through a multi-layered index framework consisting of four pillars reflecting key aspects of defense and security capabilities: defense industry and technology, deployment readiness, cyber defense and coordination support, and independent command and intelligence.

Each pillar is measured by three or four detailed indicators that reflect not only current capabilities but also the extent to which the EU depends on external partners.

Speaking at the workshop, Dr. Hoa Huu Cuong - EU Research Center said that strategic autonomy in critical raw materials (CRMs) is helping the EU proactively control supply sources, serving the goal of becoming a carbon-neutral economy by 2050. At the same time, this is also a key factor helping the EU effectively implement its autonomy strategy in the fields of security, defense and space.

In recent years, the EU has implemented a number of measures to establish stable and reliable supplies. However, on the road to strategic autonomy in important raw materials, the EU still faces many challenges, from diversifying its sources of supply to environmental, technological and competitive issues.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Chien Thang - Director of the Institute for European and American Studies spoke at the conference. (Photo: Dinh Hoa).

Vietnam needs to enhance national strength

From the EU's perspective on Vietnam, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Lich - Diplomatic Academy said that for Vietnam, strategic autonomy means maintaining sovereignty and self-determination in all activities of the nation, including domestic and foreign affairs; especially in choosing the path, development model, political regime, economy, culture - society, national defense - security and foreign affairs, according to the highest interests of the country and the will of the people, regardless of any external force.

He emphasized that strategic autonomy is Vietnam's consistent foreign policy, enhanced in the context of a volatile world, competition between major countries and many complex challenges.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Lich, the process of promoting domestic strategic autonomy is facing many difficulties such as fierce geopolitical competition, an uncertain international environment, and an economy that depends largely on small and micro enterprises, mainly operating in the service sector.

“To overcome these challenges, Vietnam needs to continue to clarify the theoretical basis for independence and strategic autonomy in the new context; enhance national strength, especially economic strength; firmly adhere to the policy of independence, autonomy, multilateralization and diversification of foreign relations; harmoniously combine internal strength and maximize mobilization of external resources; and proactively participate in important world issues,” Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Lich emphasized.

The workshop contributed to clarifying the concept of strategic autonomy in the context of globalization, and at the same time opened up important suggestions for Vietnam in building an independent, autonomous development policy, flexibly adapting to the volatile international environment. The opinions and discussions at the workshop are the basis for continuing to research and perfect the theory and practice of strategic autonomy in the coming time.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/hoi-thao-tu-chu-chien-luoc-cua-chau-au-va-ham-y-chinh-sach-cho-viet-nam-tap-trung-4-chu-de-chinh-217151.html