Korea Policy
From the Issue
Korea Policy Vol. 3, Issue 1About Korea Policy
Korea Policy is the premier journal for analysis and commentary on developments affecting the U.S.-South Korea alliance. Bridging scholarly insight and policy relevance, Korea Policy features original research and expert perspectives on strategic, political, economic, and other issues shaping Korea’s role in the world. In this way, KEI aims to inform academic debate, guide policy discussions, and foster a deeper understanding of the important partnership between the United States and South Korea. Contributions come from leading scholars, practitioners, and emerging voices across various fields.
Korea Policy is an open-source academic journal commissioned, edited, and published by the Korea Economic Institute of America in Washington, D.C
The second Donald Trump administration’s policy reversals are undermining three decades of U.S.-Vietnam reconciliation and cooperation, thereby weakening the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy. As Vietnam seeks greater strategic space to maintain autonomy amid intensifying great power competition, the country will likely double down on its principles-based foreign policy and efforts to elevate its international standing. However, as U.S.-China tensions escalate, Vietnam will face increasing challenges in cultivating strategic neutrality. To counterbalance China’s influence, the United States must work more closely with allies and partners in the region, including Vietnam, and demonstrate long-term reliability.
Policy Recommendations
- Vietnam must prioritize reducing its trade dependencies to lessen the impacts of economic coercion. In doing so, the country should leverage its existing seventeen free trade agreements more effectively through targeted support programs that help businesses navigate complex trade frameworks. Developing robust public-private partnerships could also significantly reduce administrative compliance burdens and enhance trade facilitation.
- The United States must fundamentally rebuild trust with Vietnam. U.S. policymakers should frame concerns about China around its revisionist behavior rather than communist ideology, thereby avoiding mistrust with Vietnamese leaders.
- Most critically, the United States must fulfill its economic commitments and avoid sudden policy reversals that undermine long-term strategic planning.