An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | Oct. 30, 2020

Secretary Michael R. Pompeo Travels to Vietnam to Demonstrate Support for a Strong, Prosperous, and Independent Vietnam

U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Vietnam

U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Vietnam -- “Over the last quarter century, our two countries have built a partnership and friendship founded on shared interests, mutual respect, and people-to-people ties. Our everyday interactions are highlighted by increasing trade and investment ties, strategic cooperation, and collaboration on humanitarian and legacy of war issues, including the solemn duty of accounting for our wartime missing. In recent years, we have strengthened and expanded our Comprehensive Partnership, based on a shared vision of a stable and peaceful Indo-Pacific region, as well as respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political systems.” — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, July 10, 2020

Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will travel to Hanoi, Vietnam, from October 29-30, 2020, where he will meet with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh, and Minister for Public Security To Lam. The Secretary is traveling to Vietnam to reaffirm the strength of our comprehensive partnership, celebrate the 25th anniversary of U.S.-Vietnam diplomatic relations, and discuss issues in the South China Sea and Mekong regions of mutual concern.

THE U.S.-VIETNAM COMPREHENSIVE PARTNERSHIP

  • Twenty-five years ago, the United States and Vietnam established diplomatic relations. To take this step forward, we first had to look back and confront the legacies of war and work with veterans, families, and others affected by our shared history. Today, our nations are trusted partners with a friendship grounded in mutual respect.
  • In areas as diverse as trade, development, education, health care, energy, and security, the United States and a strong and independent Vietnam are working together with a shared commitment to peace and security.
  • This shared commitment was articulated by President Trump and Vietnamese President Quang in their November 2017 Joint Statement, made during President Trump’s State visit to Hanoi. It was further amplified by Secretary of State Pompeo’s July 2018 and Secretary of Defense Esper’s November 2019 visits to Vietnam to meet top leaders. These visits affirmed President Trump’s and Vietnamese leaders’ commitment to a new three-year Plan of Action for Defense Cooperation for 2018 to 2020.
  • The USS Theodore Roosevelt port call in Vietnam during the 25th anniversary year follows on the historic March 2018 visit of USS Carl Vinson, the first U.S. aircraft carrier visit Vietnam in more than 40 years. These port visits underscore U.S. support for a strong and independent Vietnam and demonstrate the depth of our friendship.
  • Our progress on people-to-people exchanges has been extraordinary. Every year tens of thousands of Vietnamese study in the United States. They return to Vietnam with a world-class education and the tools needed to contribute to a thriving economy. We were thrilled in July to sign the Peace Corps Implementing Agreement, thus deepening our ties and mutual understanding for generations to come. On September 9th, the U.S. government announced the establishment of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Academy at Fulbright University Vietnam, which is expected to be an excellent platform for stronger human capital development across the region.
  • Vietnam has served admirably as 2020 ASEAN Chair and demonstrated strong and constructive leadership as the region has tackled the COVID-19 virus. Under Vietnam’s leadership, this year we held a virtual U.S.-ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting on COVID-19 and the first-ever U.S.-ASEAN Health Ministers meeting. Vietnam will also host the Women, Peace, and Security Conference this December.
  • President Trump and Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trung affirmed their commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights in two U.S.-Vietnam Joint Statements. Every year the United States and Vietnam gather to share concerns and exchange ideas on how to promote and protect human rights.
  • Vietnam is one of America’s fastest growing markets. What started out 25 years ago with almost no two-way trade in goods has grown to more than $81 billion in trade annually today. We are committed to achieving fair and reciprocal trade with Vietnam, as well as an open investment climate, by reducing barriers to trade and advancing market-oriented reforms. Our collaborative work to ensure the free and fair flow of goods and investment between our two countries will result in mutual prosperity.

THE UNITED STATES AND VIETNAM SHARE A VISION OF A FREE AND OPEN INDO-PACIFIC REGION

  • The United States supports a free and open Indo-Pacific Region, which includes the South China Sea. We respect Vietnam’s rights and interests and seek to preserve peace and uphold freedom of the seas in a manner consistent with international law.
  • In July, Secretary Pompeo announced a policy clarification regarding Beijing’s unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea and emphasized that the United States was prepared to take firm action to oppose Beijing’s campaign of bullying. 
  • The United States stands with our Indo-Pacific allies and partners in protecting their sovereign rights to offshore resources in the South China Sea, consistent with their rights and obligations under international law. The United States rejects PRC maritime claims to the waters surrounding Vanguard Bank off Vietnam’s coast. We will oppose any efforts aimed at undermining the rules-based maritime order in the South China Sea or elsewhere.
  • Vietnam has been a steadfast partner in our work to grow the prosperity of the Mekong region. In September, Vietnam and the United States co-chaired the launch of the Mekong-U.S. Partnership, an expansion of our efforts to support the autonomy and growth of the five Mekong-region countries. The United States recognizes Vietnam’s efforts to elevate the Mekong sub-region within ASEAN and shares the view that a prosperous and healthy Mekong region is fundamental to ASEAN’s overall prosperity. 
  • On October 5, the United States and Vietnam held high-level discussions to expand environmental and scientific collaboration in the Mekong region, including combating wildlife trafficking and stopping illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. The United States is deeply concerned about the PRC’s lack of transparency on upstream dam operations and in its limited sharing of water data with downstream countries through the Mekong River Commission. The PRC’s malign and destabilizing actions in the Mekong region, including manipulation of Mekong river water flows, negatively affect millions of people who depend on the river for their livelihoods.
CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM
Facebook

Like Us
Twitter
342,393
Follow Us

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                                 

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
US Air Force Participates in Civic Action Engagement Alongside Royal Thai Air Force, Republic of Singapore Air Force during Exercise Cope Tiger 23
Col. Paul Davidson, left, U.S. Air Force exercise director, Col. Maxmillion Goh, center, Royal Singapore Air Force exercise director and Group Capt. Anurruk Romnarak, right, Royal Thailand Air Force exercise director, pose for a photo with students, faculty members, and community leaders during a combined civic action engagement during Exercise Cope Tiger 23 at Nongpednam School, Korat, Kingdom of Thailand, March 23, 2023. The combined civic action engagement provides an opportunity for countries participating in CT 23 to give back to the community surrounding Korat Royal Thai Air Base. CT 23 is an annual exercise meant to improve readiness and the ability of participating forces to operate together while enhancing military relations and combined capabilities.
March 29, 2023 - KORAT, Kingdom of Thailand -- Airmen from the United States, Thailand and Singapore visited a local school as part of a combined civic action engagement during Exercise Cope Tiger 2023.The Airmen took a break from their...

U.S. Naval Ship Matthew Perry Returns to Indo-Pacific Waters After Voyage Repair in India
U.S. Consul General in Chennai Judith Ravin inside USNS Matthew Perry which was at L&T shipyard in Kattupalli near Chennai for maintenance and repair work.
March 29, 2023 - CHENNAI, U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India -- USNS Matthew Perry, a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship of the United States Navy, has successfully completed maintenance and repair work at Larsen & Toubro Ltd’s facility in...

Competition With China Drives FY 2024 Budget Request
Ships and aircraft from Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (NIMCSG) and Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (MKI ARG), with embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), operate in formation in the South China Sea. NIMCSG, MKI ARG and 13th MEU, are conducting combined expeditionary strike force (ESF) operations, demonstrating unique high-end war fighting capability, maritime superiority, power projection and readiness. Operations include integrated training designed to advance interoperability between the two groups while simultaneously demonstrating the U.S. commitment to our alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region. NIMCSG is in U.S. 7th Fleet conducting routine operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
March 29, 2023 - WASHINGTON -- The $842 billion fiscal year 2024 budget request for the Defense Department is driven in large part by strategic competition with China, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said.The budget also focuses, he...

Navy Conducts Revitalization at the Port of Tinian; Extends Life of Port Infrastructure for Region
A U.S. Navy diver from Underwater Construction Team (UCT) Two enters the Port of Tinian for underwater construction repairs in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  Photo by
March 29, 2023 - TINIAN, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands -- Bubbling under the waters at the Port of Tinian, a team of Sailors from Underwater Construction Team (UCT) Two could be seen welding zinc anodes to the north quay wall...

NIMCSG, JMSDF Conduct Bilateral Maritime Exercise
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer JS Ise (DDH 182) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Decatur (DDG 73) and USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) steam behind the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is conducting a bilateral maritime exercise with the JMSDF in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
March 28, 2023 - PHILIPPINE SEA -- The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (NIMCSG) conducted a bilateral maritime exercise with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), March 23-26.USS Nimitz (CVN 68), USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108), and USS...