04.02.2026 00:54
A secret document belonging to the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense revealed statements indicating that the current government views the United States as a potential 'threat of war.' The document emphasized the need to prepare for possible external interventions by the U.S.
A secret document belonging to the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense revealed that the Hanoi government considers the U.S. a potential "threat of war."
The organization The 88 Project, which monitors human rights violations, shared an internal document prepared by the Vietnamese army in August 2024, titled "U.S. Second Invasion Plan," in its published report.
U.S. IDENTIFIED AS A POTENTIAL THREAT OF WAR
The document, which identifies the U.S. as a potential "threat of war," emphasizes the need to prepare for possible external intervention.
The document includes an assessment that the U.S. may resort to large-scale operations, including unconventional warfare methods and military interventions against countries that "deviate from their orbit," in line with its goal of strengthening deterrence against China.
“MAY ENCOURAGE A COLOR REVOLUTION”
The report suggests a deep concern that the U.S. and its allies could promote a "color revolution"-like popular uprising in the country, citing examples such as the Orange Revolution in Ukraine in 2004 and the Yellow Revolution in the Philippines in 1986.
Ben Swanton, the director of the organization that authored The 88 Project's report, stated that this approach is not a marginal view within the government, saying, "This concern is a view shared across the state and various ministries."
DIPLOMATIC APPROACH CONFLICTS WITH SECURITY CONCERNS
Former U.S. President Joe Biden elevated relations between the two countries to the highest diplomatic level by signing a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" agreement with Vietnam in 2023. However, the secret military document suggests that despite the U.S. viewing Vietnam as a partner, it aims to transform the country's socialist structure through democracy, human rights, religion, and ethnic identities.
Swanton noted that this document provides "one of the clearest insights" into Vietnam's foreign policy, stating that the Hanoi government perceives the U.S. not as a strategic partner but as an "existential threat."
Meanwhile, while the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not make a statement regarding the report, the U.S. Department of State's statement included, "A strong, prosperous, independent, and resilient Vietnam is in the interest of both countries and contributes to the stability of the Indo-Pacific region."