Soviet Relations with Indochina in the 1970's.
Abstract
Soviet political relations with the Indochinese nations in the 1970's continued to reflect the two major concerns of the USSR, namely its own national security interests and its great-power relationships (especially as they related to the United States and China). The Soviet Union's concern for the former prompted caution in supporting the revolutionary movements in Indochina, as evidenced in a Soviet preference for political solutions and a reluctance to support major North Vietnamese military offensives. The changing nature of the latter caused some major shifting of policy and strategy. Thus the decision of the United States to withdraw from Indochina left an 'influence vacuum' which the Soviet Union perceived as being filled by China unless the USSR moved to prevent it. The Soviet Union apparently saw an increasing Chinese influence in North Vietnam, Cambodia, and elsewhere both as a threat to its position as a world power and leader of the Communist movement, and as an obstacle to its desire to be a major influence in Asia. When South Vietnam collapsed the Soviet Union had the economic resources to meet the North Vietnamese reconstruction and reunification objectives. Since the collapse, Soviet agreements have multiplied rapidly and those agreements, if fully implemented, tie the Vietnamese very closely to the Soviet Union. The same is true for Laos. Of the three Indochinese nations, only Cambodia seems unlikely to join the Soviet sphere of influence.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA044724
Entities
People
- Lynn Arnold Harris
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology