The 13th Vietnam-U.S. Political, Security, and Defense Dialogue took place in Hanoi on Monday and was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins.

This annual event was also the first of its kind since the two countries upgraded their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in September 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.

The dialogue included discussions on bilateral relations, defense, security, and law enforcement, war legacies, and emerging technologies cooperation, according to a press release on the website of the U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Vietnam.  

The Vietnamese delegation at the dialogue consisted of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Ministry of National Defense, while the U.S. side included Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper and officials from the Department of State, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and a number of law enforcement agencies.

Deputy Minister Ngoc and Under Secretary Jenkins praised the effective bilateral coordination in fulfilling the commitments outlined in the joint statement on elevating relations between the two countries in 2023.

They expressed satisfaction with the substantial progress made across various areas, including politics, diplomacy, economics, trade, security, defense, culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges.

This progress is seen as creating positive momentum leading up to the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Hanoi and Washington.

Ngoc affirmed that Vietnam views the U.S. as a strategic partner and highly values its commitment to supporting a strong, independent, self-reliant, and prosperous Vietnam.

He recommended that both sides enhance coordination to fully and sustainably develop the comprehensive strategic partnership.

Deputy Minister Ngoc emphasized the importance of utilizing dialogue mechanisms to build mutual trust, address obstacles, and further advance bilateral cooperation.

The Vietnamese official embraced the inclusion of hi-tech cooperation in the bilateral dialogue program for the first time, noting its significance in advancing collaboration in this key area as stated in the joint statement.

Under Secretary Jenkins commended the effective implementation of existing defense and security cooperation agreements and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to prioritizing the resolution of war-related consequences in bilateral relations.

Washington will continue to allocate resources toward cooperation with Vietnam in areas such as dioxin detoxification, bomb and mine clearance, support for Agent Orange/dioxin victims, and the search for and identification of the remains of Vietnamese martyrs.

On behalf of the U.S. government, Jenkins also expressed gratitude to the Vietnamese government for its proactive and effective efforts in locating and repatriating the remains of American soldiers missing in action in Vietnam.

The U.S. plans to bolster its defense and security cooperation with Vietnam through established frameworks and agreements, addressing needs in spheres such as military training, medical support, peacekeeping, and efforts to combat terrorism, cybercrime, and high-tech crime.

On international and regional issues, both nations have pledged to enhance cooperation to promote peace, security, and development globally.

Under Secretary Jenkins spotlighted the U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, affirming support for ASEAN’s central role and the continued collaboration to strengthen the ASEAN-U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the Mekong-U.S. Partnership.

Regarding the East Vietnam Sea, both countries underscored the importance of maintaining maritime peace and security, as well as upholding freedom of navigation and aviation.

They agreed on the principle of resolving disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Charter and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Vietnam and the U.S. normalized diplomatic relations in July 1995 and established a comprehensive partnership in July 2013.

On September 10, 2023, during President Joe Biden's official visit to Vietnam, the two nations elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, bypassing the intermediate strategic partnership level.

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