This May 24, 2019, photograph shows garment workers making men's suits in a factory in Hanoi. Vietnam is doing its best to weave its way through the great power competition between China and the United States.
Editor's Note : This assessment is part of a series of analyses supporting Stratfor's 2020 Annual Forecast. These assessments are designed to provide more context and in-depth analysis of key developments over the next quarter and throughout the year . Vietnam shone in the geopolitical spotlight in 2019, writing an economic success story amid global uncertainty over trade, mediating between the United States and North Korea and becoming a key security partner for powers near and far. But as Vietnam prepares for an all-important leadership transition in January 2021, jockeying for influence among domestic political players and major outside powers will test the country's political stability and strategic balance. Such a risk could complicate Vietnam's investment climate at a time when competition is heating up to be the most business-friendly destination in the region.
