What did General Cuong say about the conflicts and challenges at the 2020 Munich Security Conference?

Capitalism in serious crisis

PV:Dear Major General, could you please explain why this year's Munich Security Conference (MSC) chose the theme "Westlessness" - should it be understood as the loss of Western character, the world increasingly "turning its back" on the West?

Major General Le Van Cuong:The West here refers to the three most developed centers of modern capitalism: America, Japan, and Europe. After more than 500 years of formation and development, Western capitalism has created enormous achievements, promoted globalization, and brought countries closer together. However, modern capitalism is facing a very serious global crisis in all areas of social life: economy, security, living environment...

Mr. Wolfgang Ischinger - Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Germany speaks at the conference, February 16, 2018. Photo: Reuters/Michaela Rehle

The cause is identified as inequality, not only related to income and assets but also to opportunities and progress in life. A recent survey recorded that 56% of respondents believed that capitalism does more harm than good to humanity. It can be said that capitalism has never faced such difficulties and challenges as it does today. And this is reflected in the theme of MSC 2020.

The irresponsibility of superpowers

PV:Can you tell us what are the main issues on the agenda at MSC 2020?

Major General Le Van Cuong:MSCis a diplomatic forummultilateral on international security issues, and all the hot issues in the world are put on the agenda. This year, there are 40 heads of state, more than 100 foreign ministers, defense ministers, many politicians, scholars, representatives of large economic groups present at MSC 2020. Together they discuss hot issues about world security.

Police guard the route where MSC 2020 takes place. Photo: Reutes

At the global level, it is about the US-China trade war; US-Russia tensions; control of weapons of mass destruction; US-Russia withdrawal from the INF treaty, combating climate change; US-European transatlantic relations, epidemics... But the highlight that many people are interested in at this year's conference is that many speakers criticized the irresponsibility of the three superpowers: the US, China and Russia, pushing the world into instability and unpredictability.

At the regional level, security issues that took up a lot of the forum's time were the Middle East, the US-Iran relationship, Israel-Palestine surrounding US President Donald Trump's Middle East Peace Plan... They revealed that the US is on the isolated side, with Europe, China, Russia, and India all standing on the same side opposing the US. Through that, I think the atmosphere at MSC was quite open and frank when many Western scholars openly criticized the Trump administration's behavior towards Israel and a series of manifestations during his 3 years in power. In addition, the Donbass conflict (Ukraine), the issues of Libya, Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan, Russia's Nord Stream 2... were also discussed at this conference, showing that regional security issues focused on the Middle East, reflecting that this continues to be a hot spot.

A series of attacks in Afghanistan in 2018-2019 left hundreds of civilians dead and injured. Photo: Reuters

PV:Among the issues that the Major General has raised, which reality most clearly reveals the biggest contradictions between countries and forces globally, sir?

Major General Le Van Cuong:After several days of MSC meetings,The most obvious contradictions are still the conflicts between the two superpowers, the US and China, and it is even felt that a "Cold War" has begun between the two countries. The US-Russia relationship was also mentioned quite a lot. Delegates attending the conference hope that these three powers will be more responsible, properly resolve the relationship between the parties, and strengthen cooperation to deal with global challenges. At the regional level, the biggest contradiction is probably in the process of resolving the Israel-Palestine and US-Iran relations, revealing that even in the Western world, Europe completely opposes and is dissatisfied with the Middle East Peace Plan that Mr. Trump announced in January, as well as disagreeing with the US's initiation of tension and military conflict with Iran, affecting the global and regional economy.

In addition, other issues also did not create consensus such as: combating climate change, reducing strategic offensive weapons, preventing epidemics such as Covid-19...

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at the Munich Security Conference, dismissing concerns from Western nations that the US is gradually withdrawing its role on the international stage. Photo: AFP

Inequality in international relations

PV:So, according to the Major General, what security challenges is humanity currently facing?

Major General Le Van Cuong:There are four major challenges, the first and the biggest being inequality and lack of democracy in international relations. Some powerful countries give themselves the right to disregard international law, and some countries, especially small countries, sometimes suffer losses in designing and conducting bilateral and multilateral relations.

Second, the effectiveness and feasibility of the United Nations Charter and the international legal system, international institutions in all fields are facing very serious challenges. The fundamental problem in the United Nations Charter and international laws prohibits countries from using or threatening to use force to resolve disputes, and forcibly seizing the territory of other countries. However, Israel alone has waged dozens of wars to seize Palestinian land, brazenly built settlements on enemy land, the US unilaterally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, China's actions in the East Sea violate international law, infringe on the sovereignty of countries...

Third, in terms of security and politics, the world is currently unstable, unpredictable, and difficult to control. Fourth, the challenges posed by the “trio” of poverty, disease, and climate change. However, humanity is divided and lacks cooperation to respond to challenges and disasters.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (center) chairs a meeting of foreign ministers at the Munich Security Forum on February 16, 2020. Photo: Reuters/Michael Dalder

PV:How did MSC 2020 address Asian security issues, Major General?

Major General Le Van Cuong:As mentioned, issues in the Middle East and South Asia such as US-Iran relations, Israel-Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan, etc. were mentioned quite a lot. In East Asia, the nuclear issue, North Korea's ballistic missiles and the frozen relationship with the US, with no way out, were also mentioned. MSC also requested to resolve disputes between countries in the East Sea through peaceful measures on the basis of international law.

Conflict in settlement, disaster prevention

PV:What is the attitude of countries towards world security challenges, Major General?

Major General Le Van Cuong:Humanity is facing two disasters: nuclear and climate change, epidemics. In the face of nuclear holocaust, paradoxically, Russia - China - the US all declare their desire to have no atomic bombs, have institutions to prevent the development of mass nuclear weapons, and reduce strategic offensive weapons, but because of their own interests, they are in conflict in how to arrange and find solutions to prevent disasters. Regarding humanitarian issues such as fighting epidemics, climate change, and poverty, the three superpowers and rich countries in Europe also affirm their willingness to share and cooperate, but also because they stand on the position of national and ethnic interests, the attitudes and capabilities of cooperation of the countries are far apart, and this is even more acutely exposed at MSC 2020.

Vietnam needs to "remain constant and adapt to all changes"

PV:Finally, faced with such a challenging reality, how should countries, including Vietnam, choose to respond?

Major General Le Van Cuong:Perhaps countries, especially medium-sized countries, must implement the motto "with the unchanging, adapt to all changes". That is, countries, including Vietnam, must focus and effectively use all resources to quickly enhance the overall national strength, in which the most important is the competitiveness of the economy, building a stable economy based on its specific conditions. At the same time, it is necessary to calmly observe regional and world fluctuations, to promptly respond effectively, combining national strength and the strength of the times. It is necessary to pay special attention to the global economic situation, at the same time closely follow developments in major country relations, especially between the US and China, to master the situation, adjust foreign policies promptly, not be drawn into conflicts and contradictions between major powers, protect security, and develop the country.

PV:Thank you very much, Major General!