[International] Vietnamese President Meets US Pacific Commander, Reaffirms Freedom of Navigation and Overflight
RtiTalk 小編18d agoEdited
Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, is visiting Vietnam and met with Vietnamese President and General Secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee To Lam on the 5th. The two discussed regional and international issues, emphasizing the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight, and supporting the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Prior to this, U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Pete Hegseth and Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao visited Vietnam consecutively, highlighting defense cooperation as a crucial pillar of bilateral relations between Vietnam and the U.S. Both sides are committed to deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership in a substantive and effective manner.
During the meeting, To Lam highly praised the long-standing cooperation between the U.S. Pacific Fleet and Vietnam, emphasizing joint programs led by the U.S. such as "Pacific Partnership" and "Operation Pacific Angel" for humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
To Lam reiterated that Vietnam considers the U.S. one of its most important strategic partners. He expressed gratitude for the warm reception by U.S. President Donald Trump during the Peace Commission's founding ceremony in February 2026 and extended a renewed invitation for Trump to officially visit Vietnam and attend the 2027 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) informal leaders' meeting.
On July 30th, the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington docked in Vietnam. This marks the fourth such visit since the end of the Vietnam War and the longest port call in Vietnam since the two countries restored diplomatic relations in 1995, signifying a complete transformation in the relationship between two former adversaries.
Defense and security cooperation were key discussion points. To Lam welcomed the recent positive developments in bilateral relations. When discussing regional and international issues, both sides stressed the importance of maintaining peace, security, and safety, as well as freedom of navigation and overflight, while supporting the peaceful resolution of disputes based on international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Paparo thanked Vietnam for being among the first countries to join the Peace Commission initiative. He reaffirmed the U.S.'s high regard for its relationship with Vietnam, emphasizing the vision of a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific region, and reiterated the U.S.'s commitment to strengthening ties with ASEAN.
Paparo agreed with Vietnam's proposal to further advance bilateral relations and pledged that the U.S. Pacific Fleet would continue to work closely with Vietnam on implementing humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and maritime law enforcement capacity-building programs.
Another key focus of the meeting was trade and tariffs. To Lam stated that, like Trump, he hopes for the early conclusion of negotiations for a reciprocal trade agreement and urged the U.S. to expedite its Section 301 investigation.
"Section 301 tariffs" are a legal tool used by the U.S. to penalize "unfair trade practices." The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) officially imposed Section 301 tariffs on 60 economies, including Vietnam, on July 24th, launching three separate investigations into Vietnam concerning forced labor, overcapacity, and intellectual property rights.
The investigation into forced labor has concluded, directly leading to an additional 12.5% tariff effective from July 24th. Investigations into overcapacity and intellectual property rights are ongoing.
To Lam expressed his belief that Vietnam-U.S. relations will continue to develop in a stable and substantive manner, contributing to the common prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.
Vietnam's geographical proximity to China and its strategic location make it crucial for U.S. geopolitics. Vietnam is indispensable for both commercial waterways and for countering Beijing's expansion in the South China Sea.
Vietnam has consistently pursued a cautious and balanced foreign policy, engaging in multilateral alliances and avoiding taking sides in the binary confrontation between the U.S. and China. This has made it a preferred port of call for navies from many countries. In addition to U.S. warships, it has also hosted naval vessels from China, Russia, India, Australia, Japan, and Indonesia. (Editor: Chen Wen-wei)
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=224675
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