# National Defense and Security Council

The National Defense and Security Council is an agency of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, tasked with overseeing the defence and security of the country during a state of emergency or war.

## History

The National Defense and Security Council of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam traces its roots to the Supreme National Defence Council of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (commonly called North Vietnam), established in 1948. In 1960, under the new constitution adopted in 1959, the name of the agency became the National Defence Council. The National Defense and Security Council took its current form in 1992 when a new constitution was promulgated.

## Organisation and membership

Under the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the President of Vietnam is the commander-in-chief of the Vietnam People's Armed Forces, and the ex officio chair of National Defense and Security Council. The President nominates a list of members of the Council to the National Assembly for confirmation. Members of the Council need not be members of the National Assembly.
The Council operates based on majority rule.
The current membership of the Council includes: Tô Lâm, President and chair of the Council; Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister and vice chair of the Council; Vuong Dinh Hue, Chairman of the National Assembly; General Phan Van Giang, Minister of Defence; General To Lam, Minister of Public Security; Bui Thanh Son, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

## Role

The National Defense and Security Council is responsible for mobilising all resources, including manpower and materials, for national security and defence. Under the constitution, in the case of war, the National Assembly may delegate to the Council special responsibilities and powers, including declaring states of emergency and mandating actions by the government, military, public security forces, and foreign affairs officials. The chair of the Council can delegate his authority as commander-in-chief to the Minister of Defence as necessary.

## Proposal and petition

Vietnam passed a law defense power and the people's legitimate rights and security forces people like content security strategy doctrine National Socialist republic Vietnam the new period.

## List of chairmen

| Number | Name | Took office | Left office |
| Chairman of the Supreme Defense Council of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (1945-1976) |||||
| 1 | Hồ Chí Minh | 1948 | 1969 |
| 2 | Tôn Đức Thắng | 1969 | 1976 |
| Chairman of the National Defense Council of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (1976-1992) Chairman of the National Defense and Security Council of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (1992-present) |||||
| 2 | Tôn Đức Thắng | 1976 | 1980 |
| — | Nguyễn Hữu Thọ | 30 March 1980 | 4 July 1981 |
| 3 | Trường Chinh | 1981 | 1987 |
| 4 | Võ Chí Công | 1987 | 1992 |
| 5 | Lê Đức Anh | 1992 | 1997 |
| 6 | Trần Đức Lương | 1997 | 2006 |
| 7 | Nguyễn Minh Triết | 2006 | 2011 |
| 8 | Trương Tấn Sang | 2011 | 2016 |
| 9 | Trần Đại Quang | 2016 | 2018 |
| — | Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh | 21 September 2018 | 23 October 2018 |
| 10 | Nguyễn Phú Trọng | 2018 | 2021 |
| 11 | Nguyễn Xuân Phúc | 2021 | 2023 |
| — | Võ Thị Ánh Xuân | 18 January 2023 | 2 March 2023 |
| 12 | Võ Văn Thưởng | 2023 | 2024 |
| — | Võ Thị Ánh Xuân | 21 March 2024 | 20 May 2024 |
| 13 | Tô Lâm | 22 May 2024 | 21 October 2024 |
| 14 | Lương Cường | 21 October 2024 | Current |