VietNamNet Bridge  - Vietnam has established "strategic partnership" with many countries and is that number enough for the country?

In January 2013, during the visit of the Party Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong to Italy, the two countries signed a declaration establishing the strategic partnerships. This is the latest strategic partnership that Vietnam has established with another country.

Earlier, Vietnam announced the establishment of strategic partnership with Russia (2001), Japan (2006), India (2007), China (2008), South Korea, Spain (2009), the UK (2010) and Germany (2011).

Of these, a number of relationships, for instance with China and Russia, have been upgraded to "comprehensive strategic partnership." In addition, in 2009, Vietnam established the "comprehensive partnership" with Australia.

During a recent visit to France by Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, the two countries also agreed to early enhance bilateral ties to the "strategic partnership" level. According to some other sources, Vietnam has the same intention with the U.S. and several countries in Southeast Asia.

Obviously, deepening relations with important countries in the world is consistent with the foreign policy of “independence, sovereignty, openness, multi-lateralization, diversification of external relations and proactive integration into the world under the motto: Vietnam is willing to become a friend and reliable partner of all countries in the world community, striving for peace, independence and development. However, establishing "strategic partnership" with a wide range of countries is perfectly reasonable?

What is "strategic partner"?

What is a country that is considered "strategically" important for Vietnam? What are the criteria for determining Vietnam should establish “comprehensive,” strategic” or "comprehensively strategic" partnerships with a country? How different that the establishment of strategic partnership with that country makes for the foreign relations of Vietnam in general and in particular to that country?

Although Vietnam has had 10 strategic partnerships over the last 10 years, so far this seems that Vietnam's foreign policy makers have yet to have a clear definition for this concept, especially its inner meaning. Therefore, some scholars have suggested that the "strategic partnership" and its two variants - "comprehensive partnership" and "comprehensively strategic partnership" are the concepts that Vietnam uses to highlight the relationships that are important for Vietnam. However, the key issue is how important and being important to what extent to Vietnam?

It seems the concept of "strategic partnership" is being abused, applied to the relationships that have not reached that level.

A relationship should be considered as "strategic" for Vietnam when it is particularly important to the security, prosperity, and international position of Vietnam. In these aspects, security and prosperity must be the two essential aspects, and the final aspect is only minor significance.

Accordingly, in terms of security, strategic partnership will help Vietnam strengthen the diplomatic and defense foundation, actively support for Vietnam in preserving security, national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Conversely, if the relationship is worse, or interrupted, it can cause serious prejudice to the security, diplomatic and defense of the country, making it difficult for the preservation of national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In terms of prosperity, economic relationships with that strategic partner must contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of Vietnam. That is reflected on the aspects such as trade, investment, technology transfer and aid. Accordingly, this aspect can be quantified. For example, bilateral trade turnover must reach at least $10 billion, bilateral investment of $5 billion or more, etc. ... If these criteria are not met, it must consider the size and level of development of that country. Their economy is larger and more developed -- the early ability to achieve the criteria is better.

In terms of improving the position of Vietnam, the partner countries should be big or typical medium countries. They must be the countries with important position and important or significant influence to political life of the world or the region. Through the close relationships with them, Vietnam can take advantage of the support needed in the global and regional issues, to enhance its external position.

All three aspects and the relevant criteria should be recognized, and assessed overall. A country may not meet some criteria in a certain aspect, but they can still be identified as strategic partners if in overall, that country is highly important to Vietnam.

Looking at the list of strategic partners that Vietnam has set up, one can see there are some countries that their influence to the security, prosperity and international standing of Vietnam does not reach the important level, not to mention the "strategic importance."

Implications of "inflation" of strategic partners?

Some people may argue that the more "strategic partners" that Vietnam has, it is better for the country because it helps Vietnam to deepen relations with many countries at the same time. This is only beneficial, not harmful for Vietnam. However, if the purpose is simply so it is necessary to name the relationship as "strategic partners?"

The nature of establishing strategic partnerships is to classify, arrange the order of priority of foreign relations of Vietnam. Through which, Vietnam knows what are the most important partners that it needs to continuously strengthen bilateral relations.

The identification of strategic partners also signals to the partners that Vietnam attaches special importance to the relationship with them, thereby creating a policy framework, legislation and gradually the mechanism to encourage them to invest back into the relationship with Vietnam, helping Vietnam achieve three strategic objectives as stated above.

Setting up a series of strategic partnerships, some implications that Vietnam should consider.

First, when there are so many relationships that are defined as strategic partnership, the relationships themselves are not really "strategic." The introduction of the concept of "strategic partnership" as an important keyword in Vietnam’s diplomatic thinking will lose its meaning.

Second, it will move the wrong message that we equate the real "strategic" relationship with subprime ones. This makes the countries that are really important for Vietnam not keen on the idea of becoming a strategic partner of Vietnam, or if they are already strategic partners, their interest in maintaining the regular relationship development may reduce because they think that Vietnam does not really appreciate them as they once thought.

Third, when there are so many strategic partners, Vietnam is at risk of scattering its resources and can hardly focus on promoting investment in the really important relationship.

Fourth, there will be assumption that Vietnam lacks a direction, a clear policy for the establishment of strategic partnership. That would be the weak point in the foreign policy of Vietnam, affecting the long-term foreign policy orientation of the country.

How many strategic partners are enough?

Based on the analysis above, the writer assumes that in the current context, Vietnam only needs to set up the strategic partnership with 10 countries, including China, the U.S., Russia, Japan, India, South Korea, England, France, Germany and Australia.

For ASEAN countries, Vietnam should not establish strategic partnerships because it will create differentiation, which is not good for Vietnam, especially in the context that Vietnam needs internal solidarity of ASEAN to handle the East Sea conflict.

So it's time for Vietnam to have a clear thinking about the concept of "strategic partnership." Vietnamese foreign policy makers should soon clarify the internal meaning of this concept, and make the criteria to determine which countries are the strategic partners of Vietnam at present and in the future.

The list of strategic partners of Vietnam is not necessarily fixed but it can be adjusted flexibly, depending on the evolution of the relationship. It is important that this list should not exceed 10 partners.

Le Hong Hiep

Mr. Hiep is a lecturer of the Faculty of International Relations, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, HCM City National University, and is currently a postgraduate at the University of New South Wales, Australia Defense Academy.