Bandying about as an imperialist bully, the US now resembles Russia and China. So, it's high time for countries to swallow their pride and mimic Vietnam's agile diplomatic dance to avoid being tossed about like a estranged lover.
Navigating the Chaos: Essential Bamboo Diplomacy for the Updated Geopolitical Landscape
By Andreas Kluth / Bloomberg Opinion
In this Washington incarnation of the world's alpha bully, things are getting messy. The US, formerly the well-meaning top dog, is now groping for a new role as an imperialist power carving up the earth into fiefdoms.
Now, imagine you are observing us from the capital of a lesser power, perhaps Hanoi, Jakarta, New Delhi, Pretoria, Abuja, Brasilia, Mexico City, Copenhagen, Ottawa, or Panama City. Or even so small a nation like Finland or Denmark.
My advice, thirty days into the second term of the unpredictable POTUS, is this: Embrace Vietnam's elastic approach to diplomacy, often referred to as "bamboo diplomacy". Bend like the wind so you don't fracture. Try to maintain distance from the major powers, and lessen your reliance on them. Trade with all those willing to trade, and in multilateral agreements where possible. Make alliances with one against the others when necessary, but don't trust these pacts fully. Do whatever it takes to stay free and autonomous.
Illustration: Yusha
In a nutshell, Vietnam's brand of bamboo diplomacy rests on a flexible framework requiring: strong roots; a resilient trunk; and supple branches – much like the bamboo that graces Vietnam's forests, art, and culture. This resilient stance is vital to a nation that has struggled mightily against colossal and fickle powers like China, France, and the US during its quest for independence.
Vietnamese foreign policy embraces "four noes": no constant allegiances; no choice of sides in conflicts between major powers; no permitting others to use your land for hostilities, and no aggressive actions to resolve disputes. In essence, it embodies subtlety and shrewdness – forging cooperative partnerships with other nations while carefully balancing various interests.
Take, for example, Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Hanoi found itself in a moral quandary, sympathizing with Ukraine and decrying the invasion of its sovereignty. But ideally, Vietnam wanted to avoid doing anything that might antagonize Russia. The result? A diplomatic dance that resembled a twisted, bent bamboo rather than the flexible variety. Vietnam continued diplomatic dialogue with Russia while also expressing solidarity towards Ukraine by offering humanitarian aid.
Other countries have embraced similar diplomatic strategies under various names. Countries in the global south may emphasize "multi-alignment" or "equidistant diplomacy." India, a member of the Quad, is an example of a nation in the global south that buys oil and weapons from Russia, teams up with Russia, China, and others in the BRICS forum, and still cooperates with the US-led West.
In essence, the strategy of "bamboo diplomacy" offers a more sustainable model for small nations trying to maintain their autonomy in a complex global environment. An epiphyte, a plant that grows on another plant, might be the best comparison for those who cling too closely to a single power simply because it's safe. But like bamboo, such diplomacy offers greater flexibility, adaptability, and even potential economic advantages.
Previously, I would have suggested another grand strategy: an unwavering allegiance to the US-led West. After all, the US had, for the most part, been militarily strong, economically successful, and politically free. But Trump has shaken the foundation of the Pax Americana – the established international order that preferred stability and cooperation. Idealism, though appealing, is no longer a viable tactic, and so a blind allegiance to the US becomes unwise. The world Trump presides over is tumultuous, and ironically, the best way to stay grounded follows the path of the resilient and adaptive bamboo.
Andreas Kluth is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering US diplomacy, national security, and geopolitics. Previously, he was editor-in-chief of Handelsblatt Global and a writer for The Economist.
Sources:
- ^ "Vietnam's foreign policy doctrine in the twenty-first century", Journal of Vietnamese Studies
- ^ "Vietnam’s Diplomatic Strategy in the South China Sea: Flexibility, Finesse and the Four ‘Noes’", University of Cambridge
- ^ "Bamboo Diplomacy: Nguyễn Phú Trọng and the Making of a New Vietnamese Foreign Policy", Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Journal of International and Strategic Affairs
- ^ "Vietnam’s Strategy for a Peaceful Rise", National Bureau of Asian Research
- ^ "Vietnam's foreign policy: Flexibility, adaptation, pragmatism", European Parliamentary Research Service
- In the unpredictable landscape of global politics, countries like New Delhi might consider emulating Vietnam's "bamboo diplomacy" to maintain autonomy, as this approach requires a flexible framework that is resilient, much like the bamboo in Vietnam's forests.
- India, a member of the Quad, has demonstrated the application of "bamboo diplomacy" by maintaining trade relations with Russia, cooperating with Russia, China, and others in the BRICS forum, and yet still cooperating with the US-led West.
- The diplomatic dance of countries, such as Vietnam's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, involves navigating moral quandaries and maintaining diplomatic dialogue with major powers while expressing solidarity towards affected nations by offering humanitarian aid.
- As geopolitical tensions rise and policy-and-legislation continue to fluctuate, small nations can benefit from adopting a strategy that offers greater flexibility and adaptability, such as the elastic approach to diplomacy known as "bamboo diplomacy."
