THE THOUGHT OF MORE FRIENDS AND FEWER ENEMIES IN HO CHI MINH’S DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITIES IN THE PERIOD 1945-1954 AND ITS HISTORICAL VALUE

Huỳnh Tuấn Linh

Tóm tắt

Abstract: After the success of the August Revolution in 1945, the Vietnamese revolution faced a dire situation, akin to “a thousand pounds hanging by a hair.” It confronted internal and external enemies while suffering from economic exhaustion. The country was isolated and blockaded by reactionary and imperialist forces, which sought to sever all connections with the outside world and eradicate the newly established revolutionary government. The political landscape in Vietnam was extremely challenging, with a vast imbalance of power between the revolutionaries and their enemies. To navigate these difficulties, Ho Chi Minh adopted the foreign policy approach of "gaining friends, reducing enemies," aiming to divide and isolate adversaries while avoiding simultaneous conflicts with multiple powerful foes. Thanks to this scientific, flexible, and strategic diplomacy, Vietnam's revolution achieved crucial turning points, ultimately leading to a complete victory over the French colonial forces in 1954.

Keywords: Diplomacy; more friends and fewer enemies; peace; harmony.