Vietnam and U.S. foreign policy strategies since 1975

Vietnam and Foreign Policy

International Strategy & Foreign Policy of Vietnam

This paper presents an explanation and analysis of the international and foreign policy of Vietnam. It identifies three elements of international strategy with regards to specific instruments of foreign policy. In addition it provides broad foreign objectives to Vietnam and identifies foreign policy to Vietnam that may affect the U.S. There were four sources used to complete this paper.

International strategies are often used to implement foreign policies. Many people think of foreign policy as exclusively pertaining to military action but in reality international strategies can pertain to all aspects of international affairs.

Examples of this would be diplomacy, economic assistance and developmental assistance.

Diplomacy is a strategy used by many nations including the United States in resolving issues without resorting to war. The issues can be military issues, economic issues, social or cultural issues. They have a potentially negative impact on their relationships between the two nations or they have the ability to create tension that could ultimately lead to war.

The diplomats that are chosen to represent each nation are chosen for their lifetime achievements and their well-known ability to mediate and help resolve situations that can become volatile.

The economic assistance is not always the same as economic aid. Economic assistance is provided when the government receives help through nations working together to help a country figure out how to better its financial standing. It can also be provided when one nation approaches another nation or entity and requests that they help the third nation. Economic assistance is also a term used when economic aid is provided to the nation in question.

Development assistance is a strategy often used in foreign policy moves to help a country better itself. Whether this is in the form of sending engineers to that nation to help develop and design an highway system or to help rebuild trade relations by educating the government leaders on what to do to be allowed to join into trade membership organizations it all works to develop the underdeveloped nation and builds solid relations with those who are helping.

HOW THE U.S. IMPLEMENTS THE STRATEGIES IN VIETNAM

To understand the international strategies the United States uses to implement its foreign policies with regards to Vietnam it is important to understand the different components of the process.

The first component is the use of elements that are found in the international strategy equation. In the case of Vietnam three elements that are commonly supported include economic assistance, diplomacy and developmental assistance.

The United States has been steadily working on its foreign policy and the strategies in that policy with Vietnam since the Vietnam Conflict ended in 1975. Three of the most often used strategies that can be related to the relationship between Vietnam and the United States are Development, Economic Assistance and Diplomacy.

Diplomats have been utilized in Vietnam since before the conflict began (Adamson, 2002). President John F. Kennedy sent several diplomats to the country to try and achieve a resolution between the north and the south that would not erupt in civil war, however those efforts failed.

Following the conflict the United States began using diplomats to try and repair relationships with the nation and to help resolve any left over issues from that conflict.

The current attempts to use diplomats exceeds the historic pattern that the United States used in relation to Vietnam (Adamson, 2002).

The lack of attention on Vietnam from the Eisenhower White House allowed diplomatic and military personnel in the field wide discretion in developing the U.S. relationship with Diem. The key official at the country level from May 1957 until January 1961 was Elbridge Durbrow (Adamson, 2002)."

Before and after the conflict diplomatic relationships were built for the purpose of another international strategy called development assistance. To this end the developmental assistance has thus far helped South Vietnam build infrastructure and economy. In addition the United States has provided many new products to be used for agricultural production so that the war torn fields can again become fruitful and prosperous (Adamson, 2002).

The infrastructure assistance provides the roadways so that the agricultural products can be transported into needed areas and crops can be transported out for sale and for export.

While helping the nation rebuild the roads and highways and bridges that were destroyed during the conflict the United States also has devoted time and funding to the development of the nation's communication system. Engineers, technical training and technical instruments have all been provided by the U.S. To Vietnam in the attempt to use the international strategy of development for the purpose of defining and carrying out the United States foreign policy toward Vietnam (Adamson, 2002).

BROAD FOREIGN POLICY

The United States does implement one broad foreign policy across the globe and that is the policy of educating the world about America and implementing American products, ideas and cultures in different countries.

This policy has been noted in many of the Asian nations and Vietnam is no exception. Today one can see McDonald's. The Gap and other American companies setting up shop in the cities of Vietnam and doing a huge business.

The broad policy is to globalize and make America less formidable and more user friendly for the world's nations.

This policy as well as the diplomatic and trade polices of the U.S. with regard to Vietnam have a measurable impact on the United States.

CONCLUSION

As the world continues to globalize the boundaries become less rigid. The U.S., as one of the strongest nations on earth has a social responsibility to use its foreign policy to promote peace and the betterment of all mankind. Working to help rebuild Vietnam, provide funding and technical assistance to that end and using diplomatic tactics to resolve differences is a positive step in that direction.