UK Minister of State for Defense Baroness Goldie visited Vietnam on Wednesday and Thursday to continue efforts to strengthen the two countries’ bilateral defense partnership.

During the visit, Goldie met with Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of National Defense, and co-chaired the UK and Vietnam’s Fourth Defense Policy Dialogue – an annual bilateral meeting between the two nations which focuses on the future of joint defense cooperation. 

The minister also visited the Vietnam Department for Peacekeeping Operations as the UK reaffirms its support for Vietnam in developing as a UN Troop Contributing Nation.

The UK has already supported Vietnam’s deployments, including to South Sudan and Abyei, by training medical and engineering personnel.

She also shared that the UK is eager to assist with future initiatives.

“I am delighted to have visited Vietnam and met with Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of National Defense, in order to co-chair the UK and Vietnam’s Fourth Defense Policy Dialogue," Goldie said.

“Celebrating 50 years of our diplomatic cooperation, this visit marks our steadfast commitment to work together on key defense matters, strengthening our existing relationship.”

Following the UK’s recently launched Women Peace and Security Strategy, Goldie met with Vietnamese delegates to discuss the strategy and how London and Hanoi can work together to protect women in conflicts and promote peaceful conflict resolution.

Paying her respects to those who died in the service of Vietnam, Goldie paid a visit to the Bac Son Martyr Memorial Monument in Hanoi.

Her visit follows Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey’s attendance at Vietnam’s first-ever Defense Industry Expo in December 2022, further demonstrating the UK’s enduring commitment to this extremely important bilateral relationship.

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