What Makes Vietnam a Valuable US Ally? || Peter Zeihan | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Vietnam is an up-and-coming ally with a healthy demography and strong positioning, making it a valuable strategic partner for the US, despite its lack of democracy.

Key Insights

• 🌏 Vietnam is an up-and-coming ally in the American portfolio and a major regional power with a healthy demography, positioning itself for long-term influence.
• 💪 Vietnam's attitude and positioning make it an ideal strategic partner, with excellent relations with Japan and Australia, striving to surpass China technologically.
• 🌟 Vietnam's educational system is strong, producing a significant number of STEM graduates and fostering partnerships with American educational and manufacturing institutions.
• ⚖️ Vietnam has a complicated history of conflict with major powers, including a lengthy 200-year warfare with the Han Chinese, which creates tensions and a disdain for Chinese influence.
• 🌍 Vietnam's population is concentrated in the north and south, with a sparsely populated coastal strip in between, making political unification challenging.
• 🤝 Vietnam is a valuable trade partner and a key player in the American alliance network, but its lack of democratic governance prevents it from being part of the American Inner Circle of allies.
• 🇺🇸 Joe Biden plans to visit Vietnam in September, highlighting its importance in American foreign policy and its potential for further collaboration.
• 🧳 Vietnam's integration and cultural unification process are ongoing, and despite its political limitations, it remains a great match for the United States in various aspects.

Transcript

hey everybody Peterson here coming to you from the mosquito Western Traverse on Porsche Peak uh over here we've got the Collegiate beats for some of my favorite uh today we're going to talk about uh Vietnam uh Joe Biden as announced I'd be going to Vietnam soon it'll probably be in September when he's already got a series of Asian Summits planned u... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How is Vietnam positioning itself as a strong strategic partner for the US?

Vietnam's healthy demography, strong work ethic, solid educational system, and alliances with countries like Japan and Australia make it an ideal strategic partner for the US. Despite its lack of democracy, Vietnam offers great potential for economic and technological growth.

Q: What challenges does Vietnam face in terms of political unification?

Vietnam, with its divided population geographically, faces the challenge of unifying politically. Despite progress made since the Vietnam War, the rugged coastal strip between the north and south makes political unification a complex and gradual process. However, there is no immediate threat of unrest or civil war.

Q: How does Vietnam view its historical conflicts with various powers?

Vietnam holds a strong anti-Chinese sentiment due to its history of warfare with the Han Chinese, which is commemorated with a two-story monument. It also commemorates its conflicts with the French and the 20-year American-Vietnamese conflict. These historical conflicts have shaped Vietnam's alliances and relationships with other countries.

Q: What makes Vietnam an attractive trade partner for the US?

Vietnam offers an attractive trade partnership for the US due to its hardworking population, strong educational system, and the potential for technological growth. With a high percentage of stem graduates and active partnerships with American educational institutions, Vietnam is actively working towards becoming a technological leader in the region.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Vietnam, an up-and-coming Asian ally, is set to become a major regional power in the future due to its healthy demography and positioning.

• Its history of conflict with various powers, including the US, France, and China, creates a strong anti-Chinese sentiment in Vietnam.

• Vietnam is working towards political unification and aims to surpass China technologically with the help of partnerships and its strong educational system.