On November 2, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth held separate meetings in Hanoi with Vietnam’s General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong, and Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang. The discussions marked the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam.
During the meeting with Minister Giang, both sides explored ways to strengthen defense cooperation. This included talks on expanding defense trade and improving information sharing between the two countries. Secretary Hegseth recognized Vietnam’s efforts in modernizing its military and praised its dedication to protecting national sovereignty and maintaining regional security.
Secretary Hegseth emphasized that resolving war legacy issues remains a key priority for the United States. In this context, he and Minister Giang announced a new memorandum of understanding focused on addressing these issues. They also exchanged artifacts from the Vietnam War as part of their ongoing cooperation.
"Secretary Hegseth applauded Vietnam’s rapid military modernization and commended Vietnam’s commitment to defend its sovereignty and regional security."
"Secretary Hegseth reaffirmed that addressing war legacy issues remains a top priority of the United States."