Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam’s engagement in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations over the past 11 years has demonstrated the country’s growing maturity and its strong commitment and responsibility to the international community, helping to implement the noble humanitarian mission, and promote sustainable peace around the world.

The Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations (VDPO) - a specialised agency under the Ministry of National Defence, has played a vital role in this journey. The journey has been marked by significant milestones and steady progress, beginning with the establishment of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Centre in 2014, which was later upgraded to the VDPO in 2017. This evolution has meaningfully contributed to the country’s diplomacy activities, especially in the realm of defence diplomacy. Vietnam's efforts have earned recognition and appreciation from the international community and media.

Affirming Vietnam’s position on global peacekeeping map

More than anyone else, the Vietnamese people deeply understand the value of peace and have always cherished and advocated for it. Right after the success of the August Revolution in 1945, President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter to the UN General Assembly, affirming Vietnam’s support for the UN’s goals and its aspiration to contribute to the common cause.

Since the country achieved peace and reunification, the Party and State of Vietnam have consistently pursued a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, and development; diversification and multilateralisation of international relations; proactive and active international integration; and being a friend, trustworthy partner, and responsible member of the international community.

On November 23, 2012, the Politburo approved a Master Plan on Vietnam’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations. Subsequently, on April 10, 2013, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 22-NQ/TW on international integration, which set the direction of “proactive and active participation in multilateral institutions, including higher-level activities such as UN peacekeeping operations.

On May 27, 2014, the Ministry of National Defence announced the establishment of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Centre, and deployed the first two Vietnamese military officers to serve as liaison officers at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), marking Vietnam’s official participation in Un peacekeeping missions.

Major General Pham Manh Thang, Director of the VDPO, stressed that the 11-year journey has been sufficient to prove the mettle, intellect, and integrity of “Uncle Ho’s soldiers” in a multinational international environment with security challenges and epidemic risks.

According to Thang, as many as 1,083 personnel from the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) and the People's Public Security forces have been deployed to UN peacekeeping missions, in both individual and unit formations. Vietnam has so far deployed six level-2 field hospital rotations with 63 military personnel, and three engineer unit rotations with a total of 184 personnel.

Thang affirmed that with their composure, exemplary conduct, and high sense of responsibility, personnel of the VPA have excellently fulfilled their missions, earning high praise from UN leaders and international colleagues. Vietnam’s level-2 field hospital rotations in South Sudan have provided high-quality health care and treatment for numerous UN staff and local civilians, and successfully performed complex surgeries.

Meanwhile, Vietnam’s engineering unit rotations have also demonstrated a high level of professional competence, significantly contributing to improving the ability of UN missions in the Abyei region.

“We have left a profound and positive impression of the Vietnamese blue-beret soldiers - the image of ‘Uncle Ho’s soldiers’ - helping to spread the noble humanitarian values of Vietnam - a nation that cherishes peace,” Thang stated.

Future vision

In the time to come, in response to the growing requirement of international integration and defence diplomacy, the VPA will continue maintaining its peacekeeping forces in different areas, and deeper engagement in UN peacekeeping operations, by increasing the number and quality of personnel and equipment in accordance with Vietnam’s capacity and conditions, while also raising the proportion of female military officers.

According to Thang, the peacekeeping force of the VPA will further strengthen external communication, public awareness campaigns, and education activities to enhance understanding and responsibility throughout the military and society regarding the significance and importance of this noble mission.

Attention will be also paid to building strong political will and a sense of responsibility among officers and soldiers during their missions, in line with the provisions and principles of the UN Charter, Thang said, stressing the need to foster determination to overcome hardships and challenges in order to successfully perform their assigned duties.

At the same time, as the specialised and principal advisory body in this field, the VDPO will continue to prioritise training and capacity building, including combining support activities from international partners with extensive peacekeeping experience and developing tailored training programmes guided by the principle of being “fundamental, practical, solid, and intensive,” with a strong focus on hands-on practice and comprehensive exercises.

The training content focuses on foreign language training; specialised professional education; peacekeeping knowledge; survival skills; international law and humanitarian law; information about the host countries' culture, people, and regulations; updates on mission conditions and specific mandates and requirements of the UN. Special attention is also given to enhancing expertise in terms of military medicine and engineering.

Efforts are underway to work closely with relevant ministries and agencies to finalise the draft Law on Participation in UN Peacekeeping Operations, which is scheduled to be submitted to the 15th National Assembly at its 9th session, Thang said, adding that once adopted, the law will fully institutionalise the Party’s guidelines and policies on Vietnam’s participation in UN peacekeeping activities, providing a comprehensive, stable, and long-term legal framework for the deployment and Vietnamese peacekeeping forces./.