Writing Contest "Inviolable National Sovereignty": Messenger of Peace

Each Vietnamese blue beret soldier participating in the United Nations peacekeeping mission is a shining messenger in the international arena, ready to sacrifice, dedicate, and contribute to the cause of protecting the Fatherland early and from afar.

2014 is the first year that Vietnam has sent forces to participate in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations. From now on, another defense diplomacy channel affirms Vietnam's proactive and active participation in maintaining global stability and peace, building an increasingly good image of Vietnam in the eyes of international friends. This is also the strategy to protect national sovereignty early and from afar, outlined by our Party and State in the new situation.

A peace-loving Vietnam

2014 marked an important milestone for Vietnam when it joined the UN peacekeeping force, but to have this breakthrough, we had a long and careful preparation process.

Since 1995, Vietnam has made important strides in the field of diplomacy, including defense diplomacy. Vietnam has begun to simultaneously implement many activities to prepare for participating in peacekeeping operations such as contributing funds, participating in learning experiences, and training forces to prepare for participating in peacekeeping operations.

In terms of law, Vietnam has actively researched and supplemented to create a legal corridor for the official activities of the Vietnamese peacekeeping force. The 2013 Constitution amended and supplemented provisions on the content and field of UN peacekeeping (Article 64, Article 89). Also in 2013, the Government approved the "Project on the Vietnam People's Army and Public Security participating in UN peacekeeping activities for the period 2014 - 2020 and the following years". At the same time, the Ministry of National Defense established the Ministry of National Defense Steering Committee on participation in UN peacekeeping activities.

On April 10, 2013, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 22-NQ/TW on international integration, with the policy of participating in UN peacekeeping activities. This policy was specified in Resolution No. 806-NQ/QUTW, dated December 31, 2013 of the Central Military Commission on international integration and defense diplomacy until 2020 and the following years. Resolution No. 806-NQ/QUTW clearly stated: "... defending the country early and from afar by peaceful means; creating and strengthening trust in protecting national interests; ensuring equality and mutual benefit; maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for national development; combining national strength with the strength of the times".

In addition, participating in UN peacekeeping activities continues to concretize the policy of the 13th Party Congress on proactive and active international integration. This is also a favorable condition for us to learn and collect information to serve research, forecasting, and strategic advice, in order to participate more deeply in international cooperation in the field of defense.

On May 27, 2014, the Ministry of National Defense established the Vietnam Peacekeeping Center under the Ministry of National Defense. In June 2014, Vietnam officially sent the first two officers to serve as liaison officers at the UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan. To meet the increasing requirements and tasks, in early 2018, the Vietnam Peacekeeping Center was reorganized into the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department.

Over the past 10 years, the Vietnamese forces participating in UN peacekeeping have been increasingly well prepared, increased in number, achieved many successes, and left a good impression in the hearts of international friends. Each Vietnamese blue beret soldier participating in the UN peacekeeping mission is a shining ambassador in the international arena about the beautiful image of a responsible, peace-loving, peace-protecting Vietnam and creating trust for Vietnam among international friends.

Cuộc thi viết — Major Trinh Van Hung (3rd from right) and 4 officers at the ceremony to hand over the President's Decision to go on a UN peacekeeping mission.

Protect the Fatherland early and from afar

In January 2024, Major Trinh Van Hung and four other officers were assigned to serve as intelligence staff officers, Western Division, MINUSCA Mission, Central African Republic.

Major Hung said that the process of selecting profiles from elite soldiers requires strict requirements on professional expertise, foreign language proficiency, capacity, moral character, and ideological stance. The officers are ready to sacrifice and dedicate themselves to become typical Vietnamese blue beret ambassadors, ready to contribute to the cause of defending the Fatherland early and from afar. Thanks to their good foreign language skills and thorough and professional training, Major Hung and other members of Vietnam have completed their tasks well.

Up to now, after 10 years of participating in UN peacekeeping activities, the Army has sent 1,052 officers and staff, and the Police have sent 13 officers to perform UN peacekeeping tasks at the South Sudan Mission, the Central African Republic, the Abyei region and the UN Headquarters. Implementing Resolution 1325 (2000) of the UN Security Council on women, peace and security, over the past 10 years, Vietnam has also sent 20 female officers to participate in UN peacekeeping activities as individuals and 131 female soldiers in the Level 2 Field Hospital and Engineering Team.

One of the highlights was the deployment of the Field Hospital in 2018, considered one of the 10 major foreign affairs events of Vietnam. At the same time, the quality and prestige of the Vietnamese peacekeeping force also contributed significantly to Vietnam's election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 period with a high number of votes of 192/193. Each Vietnamese peacekeeping delegation has well demonstrated the image of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" of Vietnam in the international arena, worthy of the mission assigned by the Party and the People when leaving the Fatherland to protect the world and the Fatherland early and from afar.

Over the past 10 years, generations of blue beret soldiers have completed their noble and sacred mission recognized by the international community, demonstrating Vietnam’s responsibility in maintaining a peaceful and stable world. These successes have greatly contributed to building the army, strengthening national defense, and contributing to the cause of building and protecting the Fatherland in the new situation.

Major Trinh Van Hung shared: "The process of performing UN peacekeeping missions is a proud period of life. Each soldier overcomes all difficult and harsh conditions in the international working environment to contribute to painting a beautiful, friendly, peace-loving and responsible image of Vietnam in the eyes of international friends."