Vietnam President To Lam warned of three converging global crises during a keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Friday [1].
The address comes as the Asia-Pacific region faces intensifying security pressures and geopolitical volatility. By urging the establishment of a strategic framework for trust-building, Lam signaled Vietnam's desire to maintain stability amidst shifting power dynamics in the region.
The Shangri-La Dialogue serves as Asia's premier defense and security forum, drawing representatives from 44 participating countries [2]. During his remarks, Lam said three intersecting global crises threaten regional peace [3].
Lam specifically cautioned against a return to outdated power dynamics, describing the danger of "the big fish swallowing the small fish" [4]. He said such an environment undermines the sovereignty and security of smaller nations.
To address these threats, the Vietnamese leader called for a collective effort to build trust among regional actors. He said a structured approach to diplomacy, and security cooperation is essential to prevent these converging crises from destabilizing the Asia-Pacific [5].
The event in Singapore provided a platform for Lam to articulate Vietnam's strategic vision to an international audience of defense ministers and security experts. His focus on trust-building reflects a broader regional effort to manage tensions between global superpowers while preserving national autonomy [1].
“the big fish swallowing the small fish”
President To Lam's rhetoric underscores Vietnam's 'bamboo diplomacy' strategy, which seeks to balance relations with major powers without aligning exclusively with one side. By framing the current geopolitical climate as a series of converging crises and warning against predatory power dynamics, Vietnam is positioning itself as a proponent of a rules-based order that protects smaller states from the volatility of superpower competition.
