Vietnam-US: Cooperation in overcoming war consequences continues to be a top priority

On the afternoon of November 2, at the headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense, General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defense, presided over the official welcoming ceremony for the US Secretary of War, Mr. Pete Hegseth.

General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defense of Vietnam, welcomed US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

After the welcoming ceremony, the two leaders held talks. At the talks, General Phan Van Giang emphasized that the visit to Vietnam by the US Secretary of War is of great significance, taking place at a time when the two countries are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (1995-2025), contributing to further promoting the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace , cooperation and sustainable development, as well as bilateral defense cooperation.

The two sides agreed that, in recent times , Vietnam-US defense cooperation has been implemented in accordance with the direction of the two countries' senior leaders and the two Defense Ministries, as well as signed documents and agreements, including the Memorandum of Understanding on promoting bilateral defense cooperation (2011) and the update of the Vietnam-US Joint Vision Statement on Defense Cooperation (2024), achieving many positive and outstanding results in the fields of delegation exchanges and contacts at all levels, especially at the high level.

Dialogue and consultation mechanisms are maintained periodically and rotated in each country; cooperation in training, UN peacekeeping, military medicine, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief; military and service cooperation; defense industry continues to be promoted; coordination in regional multilateral mechanisms, especially the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM).

Two Ministers reviewing the guard of honor. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

The Vietnamese Minister of National Defense expressed his gratitude to the US Department of War for its continued support for English language training and specialized training, including United Nations peacekeeping, for Vietnamese military personnel through courses, training, conferences, and seminars at home and abroad. The equipment and infrastructure provided by the US have significantly contributed to improving Vietnam's capacity to participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

General Phan Van Giang emphasized that cooperation in overcoming war consequences continues to be a bright spot, with strong commitments from senior leaders of the two countries, specifically on three contents.

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth shakes hands with Vietnamese defense officials. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

Firstly , cooperation in overcoming the consequences of bombs, mines and toxic chemicals after the war continues to be implemented. Highly appreciated the US announcement of a new aid package worth 130 million USD for the Dioxin Contamination Treatment Project at Bien Hoa Airport, increasing the total amount of non-refundable aid from the US Government from 300 million USD to 430 million USD.

In particular, on October 31, 2025, the Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defense and the US Ambassador to Vietnam, on behalf of the US Department of War and the US Department of State, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on enhancing cooperation in overcoming the consequences of war. This is an important milestone, creating a solid foundation for the two sides to continue promoting cooperation in this field.

General Phan Van Giang introduced to Mr. Pete Hegseth the defense diplomacy activities between the two countries in recent times. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

Second , the search for US soldiers missing in action in the Vietnam War (MIA) has been carried out effectively. To date, after 160 joint operations, Vietnam has returned to the US a total of 994 boxes containing remains, of which the US announced that it had concluded the identification of 740 cases . This is the result of the efforts of both countries over the past 50 years.

Finally , regarding the search for Vietnamese soldiers who died, were missing, or went missing during the war, Vietnam highly appreciates the information and documents related to Vietnamese soldiers provided by the US, as well as the US's support in improving the capacity to identify war remains.

Since the two sides signed the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in this field in July 2021, the competent agencies of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense have verified 44/45 sets of information files received from the US side and are currently continuing to actively search.

The two Ministers reviewed moments in defense diplomacy activities between the two countries. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

In the coming time, to continue promoting defense cooperation, on the basis of signed documents and agreements, the two sides agreed to focus on a number of contents such as exchanging delegations at all levels, continuing to effectively implement existing dialogue and consultation mechanisms; cooperation in overcoming war consequences; cooperation between military branches, defense industry, training, military medicine, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, cyber security, United Nations peacekeeping..., continuing to coordinate in multilateral defense mechanisms, especially within the framework of ADMM.

General Phan Van Giang hopes that the US will continue to support the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense in training and fostering high-quality human resources; and share experiences in the field of cyber security. Vietnam is ready to invite US officers to learn Vietnamese and participate in the International Defense Officials course in Vietnam.

US Secretary of War writes in the guestbook at the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

Regarding cooperation in overcoming the consequences of war, Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang proposed that the US continue to support Vietnam in improving its capacity to overcome the consequences of post-war bombs, mines and toxic chemicals; and complete internal procedures to ensure that non-refundable aid funds are implemented as agreed, including an additional budget of 130 million USD for the Bien Hoa airport project.

Continue to cooperate in searching for Vietnamese soldiers who died, were missing, or went missing during the war. Vietnam pledges to continue to closely coordinate and create the most favorable conditions for MIA activities, to ensure that the efforts of both sides accelerate the search work to achieve the highest efficiency.

At the talks, the two sides shared the world and regional situation and issues of mutual concern. The leaders of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense highly appreciated the US sending high-ranking defense officials and modern defense equipment to display at the Vietnam International Defense Exhibition 2024, contributing to the overall success of the event.

Informing that in 2026, Vietnam plans to continue to organize the 3rd International Defense Exhibition, General Phan Van Giang hopes that the Minister, leaders of the Ministry of War and US defense enterprises will continue to support and participate.

The two leaders held talks. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

Thanking Vietnam for its warm welcome, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth emphasized that this visit affirms the importance of the bilateral defense relationship, in line with the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development.

Mr. Pete Hegseth also said that cooperation in overcoming war consequences continues to be a top priority in the overall bilateral defense cooperation relationship, contributing to building trust between the two countries, the two armies and the two peoples.

As a country located in the Asia-Pacific region, the US supports a peaceful and prosperous Vietnam, promoting the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world.

The leadership of the US Department of War respectfully thanks the Ministry of Defense and Vietnam for their active support and assistance in searching for US soldiers missing in action in the Vietnam War (MIA).

At the end of the talks, the two sides exchanged war relics.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/viet-nam-my-hop-tac-khac-phuc-hau-qua-chien-tranh-tiep-tuc-la-uu-tien-hang-dau-333134.html