Vietnam's top leader To Lam warned of three global crises during a keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Friday, May 29, 2024 [1].
The address signals Vietnam's growing concern over geopolitical instability and the breakdown of established international norms that protect smaller nations from larger powers.
To Lam identified the first crisis as the erosion of international rules and law [2]. He said that selective interpretation is eroding international law, creating an environment where the strong may prey upon the weak [3]. This instability is further complicated by regional flashpoints that have global repercussions.
"The Strait of Hormuz has shown how one flashpoint can throw the rest of the world into turmoil," To Lam said [4].
The second crisis involves a failure in development models [2]. This crisis is characterized by slowing economic growth and the escalating impact of climate change [2]. To Lam said that these factors create a precarious landscape for developing economies attempting to maintain stability.
The third crisis is a systemic lack of trust among nations [2]. To Lam said the world is beset with multiple risks and uncertainty that countries must confront squarely [5]. He said nations should move beyond suspicion and instead propose cooperative solutions to mitigate these risks [6].
Throughout the speech, To Lam emphasized that the combination of legal erosion, economic stagnation, and diplomatic distrust creates a volatile global order [2]. He called for a return to a rules-based system to prevent further international chaos [3].
To Lam's presence at the defence summit underscores Vietnam's strategic goal of balancing relations with major powers while advocating for the sovereignty of smaller states [1].
“"Selective interpretation is eroding international law."”
By framing these issues as 'crises,' Vietnam is positioning itself as a voice for the Global South and middle powers. The emphasis on the 'selective interpretation' of law is a thinly veiled critique of how superpowers often bypass international treaties when convenient, suggesting that without a rigid adherence to global law, smaller nations face existential risks to their sovereignty.
