中國的「一帶一路」倡議（Belt and Road Initiative，BRI），奠基於印度-亞太地區的發展中國家對基礎設施投資需求之上，在推動東南亞、印度洋、東非等區域的基礎設施連通性，是兼顧經濟發展與地緣政治的國家整體戰略。其中的21世紀海上絲綢之路（Maritime Silk Road，MSR）著重在港口發展，透過基礎設施投資產生政治影響力；透過港口投資項目，建立軍民兩用發展模式，帶來經濟與軍事上的深遠影響，進而強化中國的軍事存在，形塑有利於中國的戰略營運環境，用以實現中國的國家安全利益。
越南已邁入發展中國家，經濟快速發展與南海的豐富天然資源密不可分，然而基礎建設不足以支撐經濟發展，在中國「一帶一路」倡議下，可以確定的是越南經濟發展需要中國的合作與支持；另外，越南在南海的主權爭議上與中國存有分歧，該國透過平衡外交、國際多邊合作與軍事武器進口提升軍事現代化，以因應南海未來衝突與維護南海主權。
越南是俄羅斯的傳統合作夥伴，而俄羅斯視越南為其在東南亞的重要軍售對象；同時，越南是美國「亞太再平衡」戰略的重要國家，因應中國崛起，美國全面解除越南武器禁運，提供軍售、強化越南海上防務，用以維持區域穩定、確保航行自由。美、俄對越南軍售，均有維持區域穩定的戰略意涵存在。

Designed to fulfill the developing countries’ demands on their infrastructure investment in the Asia-Pacific region, China's “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI) plays a major role in national economic and geopolitics’ strategy by connecting those infrastructures in Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean and East Africa. Among a variety of BRI projects, the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR) generates enormous political influence by establishing a military-civilian dual-function port investment projects in order to create a favorable strategic condition for Chinese military and thus in keeping with China's national security interests in these areas.
Vietnam has climbed up to the status of developing countries in just recent years. However, her infrastructure buildup cannot keep up with the requirement that her rapid economic development needs. The emergence of China’s BRI initiative fits Vietnam’s needs at right time. Despite her disagreement with China on South China Sea’s sovereignty, Vietnam continues to maintain her own autonomy and ability to face possible conflicts in the South China Sea through balanced diplomacy, international multilateral cooperation and military modernization by importing armaments from various sources.
Russia has been a major partner of Vietnam for long time. Vietnam is thus Russia’s crucial arms sales country in the Southeast Asia. At the same time, Vietnam is a pivotal country for the United States to conduct her “Asia-Pacific rebalancing” strategy in order to check the rise of China. The lift of arms embargo, promoting arm sales, strengthening Vietnam's coast defense and ensuring maritime navigation freedom are all parts of efforts to maintain regional stability in this area by the US. This paper reveals both US and Russia’s attempts to counterbalance China’s increasing influence through arm sales to Vietnam.