Vietnam defense documents reveal US seen as potential threat despite warming ties
Leaked military plans show Hanoi still prepares for a possible Western invasion, underscoring lingering mistrust of Washington amid growing cooperation
Internal Vietnamese defense documents published Tuesday reveal persistent suspicion within Hanoi’s security establishment, showing that despite improving diplomatic and economic ties with the United States, the Vietnamese military continues to treat Washington as a potential strategic threat.
According to the documents, cited by The 88 Project, a human rights organization focused on human rights abuses in Vietnam, the country's armed forces regularly update operational scenarios focused on preventing a possible US-led invasion. The plans reportedly frame the United States as an “imperialist” power and outline preparations for defending the country’s coastline, conducting modern guerrilla warfare, and deploying advanced air defense systems.
The material suggests that senior military officials remain deeply concerned about the possibility of Western-backed political upheaval inside Vietnam. The documents warn that such scenarios could be used as a pretext for direct US military intervention, particularly under the banner of protecting human rights or supporting democratic movements.
The revelations challenge the prevailing Western narrative that Vietnam has emerged as a reliable strategic partner for the United States in Southeast Asia, especially as part of broader efforts to counter China’s growing regional influence. While economic cooperation between Hanoi and Washington has expanded rapidly, the documents indicate that historical distrust of the West continues to shape Vietnam’s defense doctrine.
Vietnam and the United States, former adversaries during the Vietnam War that ended in 1975, normalized relations in 1995. In recent years, ties have strengthened amid shared concerns over Beijing’s assertiveness in the South China Sea. Despite this convergence of interests, the leaked plans suggest Vietnam remains cautious and unwilling to assume that current alignments are permanent.
Neither the Vietnamese government nor the US State Department has officially commented on the reported documents. Western intelligence officials cited in the report said Vietnam’s military thinking has remained conservative and wary since the war, even as Washington increasingly views Hanoi as a key regional partner.