New Decree provides guidance on Vietnam’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations

The Government has issued Decree 01/2026/ND-CP, providing in detail a number of articles of the Law on Vietnam’s participation in the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping forces.

Effective on the first day of this year, which is also the date of its promulgation, the decree specifies the procedures for the deployment, adjustment, extension of terms of service, and withdrawal of the Vietnamese forces participating in UN peacekeeping operations; and the competence for appointment, criteria for selection, as well as tasks and powers, of the Commanders of the Vietnamese contingents at the missions. It also gives the provisions on marks for identifying weapons, technical equipment and professional technical means of the Vietnamese forces participating in UN peacekeeping operations.

According to the decree, when the UN proposes the deployment, adjustment, or withdrawal of the Vietnamese forces participating in UN peacekeeping operations, the Ministry of National Defence will, in coordination with the Ministry of Public Security, prepare a dossier for reporting to the Government. The Government will then consider submitting the dossier to the National Defence and Security Council and the President who is the Chairperson of the Council.

The two ministries will coordinate with each other in finalising the Government’s dossier before the Minister of National Defence submits it, on behalf of the Government and as authorised by the Prime Minister, to the National Defence and Security Council and the President.

Based on the National Defence and Security Council’s decision and the Government’s dossier, the President will issue a decision for the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security to deploy the specific forces under their respective management.

The decree further stipulates that, before November 15 every year, the Government must submit to the National Defence and Security Council a plan for the rotation and replacement of the Vietnamese forces participating in UN peacekeeping operations for the subsequent year.

With regard to the extension of terms of service, when the UN requests an extension for Vietnamese personnel at a mission, the Minister of National Defence and the Minister of Public Security will decide on the extension for forces under their respective management. A report on such extension should be sent to the National Defence and Security Council within 10 working days from the date the extension decision is issued.

As for emergency situations requiring the withdrawal of forces, when requested by the UN or based on actual circumstances, the Minister of National Defence and the Minister of Public Security may decide to withdraw forces under their management. A report on such withdrawal must be submitted to the National Defence and Security Council within seven working days from the date of issuance of the decision.

Particularly, the minister of the managing ministry of the Commander of the Vietnamese contingent at a mission will, after consulting related authorities, decide on the withdrawal of the entire Vietnamese force from that mission in emergency cases.

- (VLLF)