US Secretary of Defence vows to foster cooperative ties with Vietnam
The US will continue fostering cooperation with Vietnam in defence, search and rescue, disaster relief, maritime security, peacekeeping, and war aftermath settlement, said US Secretary of Defence James Mattis.
Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh (R) and US Secretary of Defence James Mattis (Photo: VNA)
Washington D.C. (VNA) – The US will continue fosteringcooperation with Vietnam in defence, search and rescue, disaster relief,maritime security, peacekeeping, and war aftermath settlement, said US Secretaryof Defence James Mattis.
Meeting outgoing Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh on May25, Mattis affirmed the US’s wish to strengthen cooperative ties with Vietnamin all fields and the country’s support for Vietnam’s strong development,independence and prosperity.
At the meeting, the two officials highly evaluated important strides inthe Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership over the past years, includingbilateral cooperation in security-defence.
Mattis and Vinh also discussed a number of international and regional issuesof mutual concern, as well as the strengthening of relationship between theASEAN and the US, and the maintenance of peace, security and developmentcooperation in the region, including the East Sea issue, thus ensuring maritimeand aviation freedom and security and respect to international law and the UNConvention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS).
Mattis lauded Vinh’s contributions to enhancing the Vietnam-US relationship,including cooperative ties in security-defence.
For his part, Vinh affirmed that Vietnam always treasures thecomprehensive partnership with the US.
He expressed his delight at the growth of bilateral relations over thepast years, especially through mutual visits by leaders of the two countries,including the US visit by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in May 2017, theVietnam visit by President Donald Trump in November 2017, and the historicalvisit to the US in July 2015 by General Secretary of the Communist Party ofVietnam Nguyen Phu Trong.
Bilateral defence cooperation programmes will continue to be implementedeffectively, especially the outcomes of the US visit in August 2017 byVietnamese Minister of National Defence Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich and the Vietnamvisit in January 2018 by US Secretary of Defence James Mattis, said Vinh.-VNA
VNA
Related News
The Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) wants to hear US investors’ comments on recent improvements of the Vietnamese investment environment, said NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong and Sandra Oudkirk, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of Energy Resources of the US co-chaired the first Vietnam-US Energy Security Dialogue in Hanoi on March 30.
USAID and the Air Defence – Air Force Service under the Vietnamese Defence Ministry signed an agreement on non-refundable aid for a project on dioxin remediation in the Bien Hoa airport in Hanoi on May 11.
The relationship between Vietnam and the US continues to develop effectively in many areas, of which economic and trade cooperation is one of the focuses, said Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue.
Adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 24, 2024, and opened for signature in Hanoi in October 2025, the convention is the first global multilateral treaty dedicated to combating cybercrime.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang called for deeper and more substantive implementation of the Vietnam – Netherlands Comprehensive Partnership and their sectoral strategic partnerships.
Analyst Collins Chong Yew Keat said the visits to Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines have contributed to ASEAN peace, stability and development in many ways.
The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.
The visits also took place at a time when the Philippines is serving as ASEAN Chair in 2026, Singapore is preparing to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2027, and Vietnam is set to host the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in 2027.
The intellectual journey from Duong Kach Menh in 1927 to the strategic vision outlined by the Party at its 14th National Congress demonstrates a rich process of creatively applying and developing Marxism-Leninism in Vietnam’s specific conditions.
The two sides shared the view that both sides should strengthen cooperation to translate high-level common understandings into practical outcomes. Cooperation, they agreed, should focus on two key pillars: theory research and the training and capacity building of officials.
Participants reviewed rental housing demand in each area, considering different market segments and target groups. They also examined the gap between supply and demand, and pinpointed issues in policy frameworks.
PM Le Minh Hung stressed that Hai Phong should become a national pioneer in implementing a new growth model driven by science – technology, innovation and digital transformation.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam, his spouse, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation left Manila on June 1, concluding their two-day state visit to the Philippines at the invitation of Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. and his spouse.
The Vietnamese leader urged the two sides to further promote two-way investment in highly complementary and long-term value-adding sectors, such as modern agriculture, food processing, clean energy, logistics, supporting industries, digital economy, and innovation.
The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam reaffirmed and emphasised the central role played by ASEAN, stating clearly that Vietnam regards ASEAN as the most important strategic space, and that the Asia-Pacific regional security architecture should be led by ASEAN rather than becoming an arena for rivalry among major powers.
Vietnam’s presence at the 23rd Shangri-la Dialogue met the international community’s expectations for balanced, constructive and bridge-building contributions from a country that consistently pursues a non-aligned foreign policy.
Vietnam always values and wishes to further deepen its friendly neighbourly relations with the Philippines in all areas on the basis of a shared commitment to peace, stability and respect for international law, affirmed General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam.
Vietnam, Philippines issue Joint Statement on Enhanced Strategic Partnership
Based on the good friendship and the interests and aspirations of the people of both countries, the two sides agreed to elevate the Vietnam-Philippines bilateral relationship to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership.
Vietnam called for an open, inclusive regional architecture with ASEAN at its core, insisting that all new initiatives be transparent, respect international law, complement one another, and avoid undermining ASEAN centrality or turning Southeast Asia into an arena for great power rivalry. It expressed full support for and readiness to cooperate with the Philippines - ASEAN Chair 2026.
Vietnam has an opportunity to further entrench its leadership position within ASEAN, collaborate with like-minded partners, and demonstrate that Hanoi is, and will continue to be, a friend, a reliable partner, and an active and responsible member of the international community, said Professor Carl Thayer from the Australian Defence Force Academy at the University of New South Wales.
The trip marks the Vietnamese leader’s first visit to the Philippines as Party General Secretary and State President. It takes place as the two countries are preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and as the Philippines assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026.
Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh (R) and US Secretary of Defence James Mattis (Photo: VNA)