Group 1 - Vietnam officially announced its membership in the BRICS organization, becoming a partner country, signaling a shift in its geopolitical stance [1] - The U.S. imposed a 46% tariff on Vietnamese goods, significantly impacting Vietnam's economy, which relies heavily on exports to the U.S. [3][5] - The Vietnamese Dong depreciated to a historical low of 25,455, making it one of the worst-performing currencies in Asia [3] Group 2 - Vietnam's government sought to negotiate with the U.S. to reduce tariffs and open markets, but faced further punitive measures instead [5][7] - The realization that being an ally of the U.S. could be more dangerous than being its adversary led Vietnam to reconsider its foreign policy [7][12] - Vietnam's previous attempts to balance relations between the U.S. and China resulted in a deadlock, prompting a reevaluation of its strategic partnerships [8][12] Group 3 - The appeal of joining BRICS is driven by the desire for energy security and the ability to circumvent U.S. dollar dominance [16][18] - Vietnam's trade with China increased by 17.46% in the first quarter, highlighting the deep economic ties between the two nations [18] - The trend of Southeast Asian countries looking towards BRICS reflects a broader shift away from reliance on the U.S. [14][19] Group 4 - The growing membership of BRICS, now representing 42% of the global population and 26% of global GDP, indicates a significant challenge to U.S. hegemony [21] - The internal dynamics of BRICS are changing, with Southeast Asian nations potentially becoming new pillars of the organization [23] - Vietnam's alignment with BRICS is expected to enhance China's influence in Southeast Asia, undermining U.S. efforts to maintain regional dominance [23][25]