The U.S. Army Pacific and the Government of Vietnam have launched Pacific Friendship 2025, an annual engagement focused on humanitarian assistance, disaster response, medical support, engineering, and civil projects in Quang Tri province. The event marks the first iteration of this initiative and aims to reinforce the partnership between the two countries.
“We are proud to celebrate the 30th anniversary of bilateral relations with Vietnam and a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership rooted in mutual respect and shared aspirations. Pacific Friendship is an example of the breadth and depth of our cooperation,” said U.S. Ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Marc Knapper during the opening ceremony.
The program includes 12 planned activities such as demining operations, medical training sessions, and infrastructure development across 10 locations in Quang Tri. These efforts are expected to benefit local communities directly while also supporting broader disaster preparedness in the Indo-Pacific region.
“As we embark on this journey together, we have a shared commitment to strengthen our ability to respond to disaster-related events. By building our relationships with each other, we will be better able to work together to respond with agility and innovation during future disasters,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. E. Darrin Cox, commanding general of the 18th Theater Medical Command (TMC) and Army Forces representing U.S. Army Pacific for the event.
“We firmly believe that the Pacific Friendship 2025 will go beyond tangible projects and activities, inspiring trust and opening up new, deeper, and more sustainable opportunities for cooperation between Vietnam and the United States, between Quang Tri and international friends, for peace, Friendship, and sustainable development.” said Quang Tri People’s Committee Vice Chairman Hoang Nam.
U.S. Army Maj. Katlyn Cugno stated that $1.5 million from the Department of Defense’s fiscal year 2025 budget has been allocated for Pacific Friendship 25.
Since 2007, the U.S. Department of Defense has provided over $39 million for critical infrastructure projects in Vietnam. This funding has supported construction of schools, clinics that double as emergency shelters during disasters, bridges, and Disaster Management Coordination Centers across multiple provinces to help improve resilience against natural disasters.
Under frameworks like Pacific Partnership since 2007 and through programs such as the Disaster Management Engagement Activity led by Oregon National Guard since 2014 in collaboration with Vietnam’s National Committee for Search and Rescue, both nations have continued joint efforts on medical care, humanitarian aid, engineering initiatives, and enhancing disaster response capabilities.