USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -As the world’s largest communist powers, both the Soviet Union and China gave moral, logistic and military support to North Vietnam. They hoped to build and expand communism in the Asia.

Detailed explanation-2: -By the end of the 1960s, the Soviet Union overtook China as the primary supplier of economic and military aid to North Vietnam. The Soviet Union also provided propaganda support to the regime, condemning American actions and hailing national liberation movements in the fight against capitalism.

Detailed explanation-3: -Nevertheless, the USSR was traditionally one of Vietnam’s strongest allies and offered crucial military aid to North Vietnam during the war. Aid included air-defense equipment such as radar and surface-to-air missiles.

Detailed explanation-4: -It was nominally fought between North Vietnam and South Vietnam. North Vietnam was supported by the Soviet Union, China, and other communist allies; South Vietnam was supported by the United States, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Thailand, and other anti-communist allies.

Detailed explanation-5: -The Soviets believed involvement in Vietnam would assert their position of leadership in the communist movement, project their power as mightier than that of China, and help Vietnam in its communist experiment. Yet the Soviets did not want actions towards Vietnam to come at the expense of the process of détente.