There Will Be No Foreign Bases in Viet Nam – Period.

In response to a comment by Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Nikolay Pankov that Russia is considering re-opening closed Cold War bases in Viet Nam and Cuba, Viet Nam issued a strong statement on October 13 that its policy continues to be no foreign bases on its soil. Perhaps the Russian minister’s words were a trial balloon; asking in such a way as to not ask. Russia did get an answer without a rejection, but the answer was no. Viet Nam’s air and naval base at Cam Ranh Bay was used by both Russia and the U.S. in the past, and is sometimes visited by foreign naval forces from countries like the U.S., Japan and France. Visits seem fine, but no one is invited to stay.

It may be that Russia sees itself surrounded by NATO and other countries and thinks it is time to dust-off some Cold War thinking, or at least update it. Things have been in constant flux since the end of WWII, but many of the countries subject to Imperialism and invasion by foreign powers are now determined to fiercely defend their sovereignty and independence. Foreign bases are a memory of the “bad old days” are don’t get much favor in countries such as Viet Nam.

Reuters: Vietnam Says No to Bases

Russia Sputnik News: Nothing New in VN Rejection

Photo: U.S. Pacific Fleet via flickr