The force has recorded numerous outstanding achievements and distinguished exploits, making substantial contributions to safeguarding national security, the struggle for national liberation and reunification, and the building and defence of the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland.
Eighty years ago, on July 12, 1946, the People's Security Force, spearheaded by the External Security Force in coordination with other units, achieved an exceptional victory by uncovering and dismantling the counter-revolutionary organisation headquartered at 7 On Nhu Hau Street (now Nguyen Gia Thieu Street, Ha Noi). This historic achievement became a defining milestone in the nation's history, showcasing the courage, ingenuity and operational excellence of the People's Security Force in general and the External Security Force in particular.
During the resistance war against French colonial rule, the External Security Force relied on the support of the people and worked alongside other forces to uncover and dismantle hundreds of counter-revolutionary organisations. It captured numerous enemy commando teams, actively participated in campaigns to eliminate enemy collaborators, vigorously promoted the "Guard Against Espionage and Protect State Secrets" movement, and achieved major successes in investigating dangerous espionage cases. These efforts made a significant contribution to the successful counter-offensive against French forces and ultimately to the historic victory at Dien Bien Phu.
During the resistance war against the US, the External Security Force intensified its counter-intelligence efforts in the North, actively identifying espionage networks and agents operating within government agencies, educational institutions and industrial facilities. It successfully uncovered and dismantled hundreds of sleeper agents, including those involved in the C30 and GM65 espionage cases, while establishing dozens of specialised operations that eliminated and prevented numerous enemy commando and intelligence teams.
In the South, the External Security Force, together with other security units, remained steadfast alongside the people to protect Party leadership bodies, revolutionary bases and the revolutionary movement from the enemy's brutal repression. Many officers and personnel made the ultimate sacrifice, contributing to the defeat of successive enemy war strategies and to the complete liberation of the South and national reunification.
The great victory in the resistance war against the US ushered the Vietnamese revolution into a new stage characterised by both new opportunities and fresh challenges. The External Security Force proactively monitored developments, uncovered and dismantled the entire enemy intelligence and espionage network, thwarted hostile post-war plans and stood shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces and people in fulfilling the nation's international obligations.
During the period of ‘Doi moi’ (Renewal), industrialisation, modernisation and international integration, the External Security Force renewed its thinking and operational methods, thoroughly embracing the Party's principles regarding partners and adversaries. It proactively advised on measures to neutralise external threats to national interests and security, achieving numerous outstanding successes on the front line of national security protection, particularly in countering espionage, intelligence operations and foreign interference, thereby playing a vital role in the cause of national development and defence.
In recent years, alongside other units within the People's Public Security Force, the External Security Force has taken the lead in implementing the Party's policies. It has proactively prevented, detected and defeated hostile plots and activities carried out by hostile forces and foreign intelligence agencies against Viet Nam from an early stage and from afar. It has reaffirmed its position as a highly trusted force, always ready to serve as the front line in safeguarding national security and to successfully accomplish every important and unexpected task entrusted to it by the Central Public Security Party Committee and the Ministry of Public Security.
In the years ahead, the international and regional landscape will continue to evolve rapidly and unpredictably, exerting profound and multidimensional impacts on the security and development environment of all nations. Power politics and an international order based increasingly on strength are gradually replacing one founded on rules. Conflicts, wars, arms races and strategic competition among major powers are becoming ever more intense. Meanwhile, rapid advances in science and technology—particularly artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum technologies—are fundamentally reshaping both the concept of security and the strategies and tactics required to safeguard it. Hybrid warfare, combining intelligence operations with conventional military conflict, is becoming increasingly sophisticated, while new forms of threats to national security—including cyber warfare, information warfare, cognitive warfare and trade warfare—are emerging, posing unprecedented challenges to national security protection and foreign security work.
The 14th National Party Congress introduced a range of new strategic thinking and concepts regarding national security and its protection. For the first time, it formally established the principle of comprehensive security, placing security considerations at the heart of every aspect of national development. In the new era, national security encompasses not only border and territorial security but also regime security, political security, ideological and cultural security, economic security, financial security, human security, digital security, nuclear security, and security across many emerging domains and sectors.
Against this backdrop, the External Security Force must continue to uphold its heroic tradition of being "absolutely loyal to the Party and devoted to the people; united and closely coordinated; resourceful, innovative and determined to win; always ready to serve as the front line in safeguarding national security." It must strive to accomplish every task entrusted to it while focusing on the following priorities:
First, maximise the role of the External Security Force in contributing to the implementation of the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress and the Party's strategic policies. It must maintain a firm grasp of developments under all circumstances and provide strategic advice to the Party, the State, the Central Public Security Party Committee and the Ministry of Public Security on policies and solutions to safeguard foreign security and national security, preventing threats and challenges at the earliest possible stage and from beyond the nation's borders. The force must continue to serve as a model and pioneer in implementing the Party's and the State's policies, particularly the new thinking on national security and its protection, while advancing foreign affairs to a new level, expanding the country's strategic security and development space and helping to consolidate a peaceful environment domestically, regionally and internationally.
Second, continue to innovate operational methods and build a revolutionary, regular, elite and deeply modern External Security Force capable of meeting the demands of the new situation. In the new era, the force must effectively combine its proud traditions with modern capabilities, proactively applying scientific and technological advances in its operations while maintaining the capacity to neutralise all threats to national security, especially those arising from the explosive development of advanced technologies. The urgent task of modernising the People's Public Security Force—including the External Security Force—must be pursued in line with the country's development strategy, in which science and technology, innovation and digital transformation serve as the principal drivers of growth, bringing with them many new requirements.
The External Security Force should promptly develop a comprehensive strategy for this process, particularly in achieving deep modernisation. At the same time, it should focus on building a "Three-Most" force—the Most Disciplined, the Most Loyal and the Closest to the People—taking the lead in implementing the Resolution of the Central Public Security Party Committee on personnel work in the new revolutionary era. The objective is to build a force that is truly streamlined, elite, strong and fully prepared to fight and prevail against any hostile force or national security threat.
Third, strengthen unity and coordination both within the force and with external partners, while building and reinforcing a comprehensive foreign security posture that extends seamlessly across and beyond the nation's borders. This will create the combined strength necessary to safeguard national interests and national security while responding effectively to changes in the international, regional and domestic environment. Close coordination among agencies and forces throughout the political system, together with broad public participation in counter-espionage efforts, is of decisive importance to success. This is also an urgent requirement for elevating counter-intelligence capabilities, promoting the principle of "proactive security", and safeguarding national security from an early stage and from afar, in accordance with the orientation set out by the 14th National Party Congress.
The history of the External Security Force is one of heroism; its traditions are glorious, and its contributions to safeguarding national security and advancing the Party's revolutionary cause have been immense. This proud legacy is a source of strength that will enable the force to enter the new era with confidence and pride, firmly determined to fulfil every task entrusted to it by the Party, the State and the People.
It will also strive to realise the directive of General Secretary and State President To Lam: "The External Security Force must serve as a core, modern and highly capable force, safeguarding national security proactively from an early stage and from afar; taking the initiative in cyberspace, the digital domain and the field of foreign affairs, thereby contributing to a peaceful and stable environment for the development of the country, the region and the world."
