U.K. Defense Attaché to Vietnam Colonel Beatrix Walcot wrote in a letter on August 3 to VNDPKO chain-of-command that it is time for both countries to boost cooperation in enhancing the Vietnamese peacekeeping force's strength and potential.
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Secretary of State for Defense Robert Ben Lobban Wallace (fourth from right) and Vietnamese Minister of National Defense General Phan Van Giang (fourth from left) in a joint photo with officers of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations |
In his letter, Colonel Walcot said that this successful visit to Vietnam amid the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic had left an impression on Secretary of State for Defense Robert Ben Lobban Wallace, Minister of State for Asia Nigel Adams, and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Tony Radakin.
Colonel Walcot noted that throughout the working visit, the U.K. secretary was greatly impressed with the meeting with the peacekeeping officers who had been trained at the VNDPKO’s Training Center. Secretary Wallace also highlighted other activities during his visit, including a courtesy call on Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his speech at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam's round-table discussion.
According to the U.K. defense attaché, the Vietnamese peacekeeping officers are well prepared for their meeting with the U.K. Secretary of State for Defense. He reported to London on Vietnam's success as a major contributor to the U.N. peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), adding that after the meeting between the U.K. Secretary of State for Defense and Vietnamese peacekeepers, his country will continue to invest in providing training and support in this field for Vietnam.
VNDPKO's Director Major General Hoang Kim Phung held that defense cooperation in U.N. peacekeeping operations between Vietnam and the U.K. has been developing increasingly. The British side maximized its advantages in terms of English language, experience and knowledge in preparation for the force, deployment and field operations of the peacekeeping force in both individual and group forms at U.N. peacekeeping missions. Since 2016, the U.K. has provided English language training for Vietnam’s Level-two Field Hospital (L2FH) Rotation 1 staff, sent experts to instruct the hospital to conduct combined training programs, among others.
Since Vietnam sent its first unit to a U.N. peacekeeping mission, the practical and effective cooperation has been highlighted. After Vietnam's L2FH Rotation 1 arrived in Bentiu, South Sudan in October 2018, the two sides actively worked together to support the hospital so that it could immediately conduct medical examinations and treatment in the African country.
The images of British blue berets transporting Vietnamese goods and equipment from Bentiu airfield to the base, sharing experience, conducting field exercises, transferring and operating the L2FH of Vietnam, and sharing fresh water with Vietnam's L2FH, are just a few examples of the cooperation, which have contributed to helping the L2FH Rotation 1 quickly adapt to the harsh local environment conditions. Since then, the Vietnamese peacekeeper medical personnel has provided healthcare for two thousands U.N. staff in Bentiu, South Sudan.
U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix recognized the outcomes of the substantive and effective cooperation via a letter sent to the Vietnamese Government and Ministry of National Defense. He noted that the U.N. and the UNMISS leaders commended Vietnam for successfully deploying its L2FH to the U.N. mission. Vietnam’s military medical unit has been active in responding to local difficulties. This is an outstanding example of the success of Vietnam-U.K. cooperation.
Colonel Walcot said that in the coming time, the U.K. Defense Ministry would continue supporting Vietnam in training, raising troops' English language command, meeting all requirements of the U.N. for the peacekeeping military medical force and the first Engineering Company of Vietnam, contributing to promoting Vietnam-U.K. defense cooperation.
Translated by Minh Anh