Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Viet Nam People’s Army (VPA) Senior Lieutenant General Pham Truong Son attended the event on behalf of Viet Nam’s Ministry of National Defense.
In her remarks, Ambassador Helga Margarete Barth highlighted a common feature of the Bundeswehr and the VPA: Both have participated in and contributed to U.N. peacekeeping operations. The two sides share the understanding that peace and stability are the foundation for all development.
According to the ambassador, the trust between the two militaries could open up opportunities for cooperation in the defense industry. “We look forward to the Viet Nam Defense Expo 2026, which will take place in Ha Noi this December,” she said.
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Delegates pose for a group photo at the event. |
She noted that the number of German exhibitors to participate in this year’s expo had nearly doubled compared with the 2024 edition. Underscoring Germany’s strong interest in the event hosted by Viet Nam, she said that, for the first time, a delegation from the German Ministry of Defense would attend the expo. The ambassador extended her best wishes to Viet Nam as the host country in its preparations for and organization of the expo.
Ambassador Helga Margarete Barth also emphasized that the strongest ties between Germany and Viet Nam are often built through people-to-people connections. Since 1989, more than 100 Vietnamese military officers and personnel have received education and training through German military courses and annual bilateral cooperation programs.
Speaking at the event, Lieutenant Colonel Ingo Krüger stressed that the Bundeswehr attaches importance to close cooperation with partners worldwide, including Viet Nam. Bilateral defense cooperation covers various fields, with defense policy, security, and U.N. peacekeeping operations serving as key pillars.
He noted that 2026 is a successful year for bilateral defense cooperation. The two sides have agreed to expand cooperation in military medicine and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense, identifying these as new priority areas in their partnership.
Translated by Quynh Oanh