Thayer Consultancy Background Brief:

ABN # 65 648 097 123

Vietnam Votes Against
Condemning Russia’s
Annexation of Ukraine
October 13, 2022

On the day after being elected to the UN Human Rights Council, Vietnam abstained
from voting against Russia's attempted illegal annexation in Ukraine.
What is your assessment about Vietnam's decision?
ANSWER: This vote is not surprising. Earlier this year there were three votes in the UN
General Assembly on Russia and the war on Ukraine. On the resolution condemning
Russia Vietnam abstained; on the vote on humanitarian consequences Vietnam
abstained; and on the vote to suspend Russia's membership on the UN Human Rights
Council Vietnam voted against. Prior to the third vote the Russian Ambassador to the
UN said that a vote to suspend Russia would be viewed as a hostile act.
Vietnam, like India, is dependent on Moscow for Russian arms and military
technology. From Vietnam's point of view it does not want to see Russia weakened.
Russia has been a reliable friend in many ways as a key player in Vietnam's strategy of
diversifying and multilateralizing external relations. Indeed, Russia was Vietnam's first
strategic partner in 2001.
Vietnam's vote against condemning Russia's illegal annexation of Ukraine may come
back to haunt Vietnam. This vote undermines the trust that the United States and
Europe have in Vietnam as a reliable partner and constructive member of the
international community. If the war in Ukraine becomes a protracted conflict, Vietnam
may be seen as part of the problem because it abets Russia (but not to the extent that
Iran and North Korea are doing). The better course in the long run would have been
for Vietnam to abstain.
The UN General Assembly comprises 193 members, 145 supported Vietnam’s election
to the 47-member UN Human Right Council (HRC) for a three-year term. What this
signifies is that Vietnam’s focus on comprehensive human rights, such as responding
to public health threats such as COVID-19, poverty alleviation and gender equality
resonates well with 75% of General Assembly members. Vietnam is also supported
because of it opposes unilateral sanctions imposed by some major powers against UN
members such as Myanmar. Vietnam says it will support sanctions approved by the
Security Council as intended under the UN Charter. Vietnam will not take actions that
lead to further polarization of the international community by siding with one camp
against another.
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Vietnam has come under pressure by individual European states over its poor track
record on political and civil rights and religious freedom. Vietnam, however, will
continue to promote a comprehensive view of human rights and pursue inclusivity and
dialogue among UN members who hold difference views on human rights.

Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, “Vietnam Votes Against Condemning Russia’s

Annexation of Ukraine,” Thayer Consultancy Background Brief, October 13, 2022. All
background briefs are posted on Scribd.com (search for Thayer). To remove yourself
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