Strengthening coast guard capacities is among key pillars in the defense ties between Vietnam and the US since the signing of a memorandum of understanding in 2011.

Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photo: MOFA

The defense ties which cover maritime security and improving coast guard capacities contribute to maintaining peace, stability, and development in the region and around the globe, Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has said.

Hang said in a statement one day after US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said on November 20 during a visit to Hanoi that the US will hand over a second Hamilton-class High Endurance Cutter to Vietnam’s Coast Guard next year.

But Hang gave no details on the kind of ship and time of transfer. She said that “relevant authorities will disclose [the information] in a appropriate time.”

She said that the defense ties have been deepened following the signing of the MoU in 2011, the Joint Statement on Defense Cooperation in 2015 and Plan on Defense Cooperation for 2018-2020.

In a speech delivered at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam during his visit, Mark Esper said the sovereignty of Indo-Pacific nations is being threatened.

In some cases, ASEAN countries have been compelled to work through extortionary joint ventures to extract resources that are rightfully theirs under international law.

The US and ASEAN share common values and will work closely together to promote the principles enshrined in its Indo-Pacific Strategy. “In fact, our strategy aligns with ASEAN’s Indo-Pacific Outlook, which emphasizes ASEAN centrality and its leadership in promoting regional cooperation.”

Across the Indo-Pacific, the US will continue to put its words into action. Earlier this year, the US held the first-ever ASEAN-US Maritime Exercise where the US trained with partner nations to enhance their collective ability to provide maritime security.

The US will continue to support efforts by their allies and partners, particularly Vietnam, to ensure freedom of navigation and economic opportunity throughout the region.