Bamboo Diplomacy: History, Political ties between Russia and Vietnam

Along with some other countries, Vietnam has both historic and modern warm ties with Russia as eastern authoritarian regimes. During the invasion of Ukraine, these ties continue to be relevant. In this lecture, Eugene Chu elaborates on how relations developed between the two nations. Drawing from academic sources, military experience and interviews with Vietnamese Americans, he explains how former French colonial times, bipolar Cold War era and the modern multipolar era contributed towards Hanoi’s policies towards Moscow. We will examine how the old Soviet Union supported Vietnam during multiple wars and how Vietnam now supports the Russian Federation as a small, but noteworthy connection in Southeast Asia.

At each of our events you can expect a warm atmosphere, an ability to network as well as complimentary refreshments.
RSVP is recommended, and donations welcomed.

Each talk is broadcasted live from our auditorium when it starts at 6:00pm EST on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567824218964

Eugene Chu is a retired U.S. Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel with over 23 years of service, international deployments in South Korea, Iraq, and Poland, defense policy experience, and ongoing engagement in Ukraine-focused security and advocacy efforts.

Eugene Chu is a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the U.S. Army Reserve with more than 23 years of combined service. His assignments included overseas postings in South Korea, Iraq, and Poland. Following his military retirement, he served as an authority coordinator for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

Lieutenant Colonel Chu holds an undergraduate degree in political science and a graduate degree in business from Texas Christian University, with academic coursework in The Vietnam War ,Chinese history, international business law, and Russian foreign policy. His professional and personal experience includes travel to Europe, mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. He remains actively engaged in advocacy for Ukraine, including participation in Ukraine Action Summits in Washington, D.C., and the study of the Ukrainian language.