The U.S. has committed US$12.5 million to help Vietnam strengthen its maritime law enforcement capabilities and combat illegal fishing, the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi said in a statement on Thursday.

U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper unveiled the package during his meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien in Phu Quoc City, an island off the coast of Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam, the same day.

The aid is part of the efforts to tackle illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and strengthen Vietnam’s maritime security.

The funding, provided through the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), will be distributed to Vietnamese law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Fisheries Surveillance, the Ministry of Public Security, and the General Department of Customs.

The assistance package includes the donation of small patrol boats, capacity-building programs, and the development of maritime law enforcement training facilities.

During his visit to Phu Quoc, Ambassador Knapper observed training exercises involving Vietnamese fisheries enforcement and customs officers, with many of them women.

These capacity-building activities, supported by the U.S. Mission to Vietnam and the INL, aim to strengthen women’s roles in maritime law enforcement.

The U.S. is committed to supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific as well as a strong, prosperous, independent, and resilient Vietnam.

These new programs are part of broader efforts to deepen Vietnam-U.S. cooperation in maritime law enforcement and enhance maritime security under the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.

The embassy emphasized that this collaboration showcases the shared commitment of both governments to addressing regional and global challenges.

According to Reuters, Vietnam has been urged for years by neighboring countries and trade partners to take stronger action against illegal fishing practices.

The European Union has warned of potential bans on seafood imports from Vietnam if significant progress is not made to combat IUU fishing.

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