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A view of the 14th Viet Nam-U.S. Defense Policy Dialogue |
At the dialogue, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang noted that bilateral ties under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership continue to grow substantively, with war legacy settlement remaining a key pillar strongly backed by leaders from both sides.
Agreements signed on September 23, 2026, in Ha Noi on the Bien Hoa Air Base dioxin remediation and the Inclusion Project for people with disabilities in sprayed regions paved the way to expand the project and deliver an extra 130 million USD, aiming to finish remediation before 2031 to safeguard residents.
Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang thanked the U.S. Department of War for its effective support, demonstrating U.S. commitment to war legacy cooperation. Assistant Secretary John Noh welcomed advancing bilateral ties, reiterated support for an independent, self-reliant Viet Nam upholding its “Four No's” defense policy, and thanked Viet Nam for over four decades of MIA search efforts.
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The two head delegates sign the minutes of the 14th Viet Nam-U.S. Defense Policy Dialogue. |
Both sides agreed to fulfill cooperation commitments, prioritizing high-level exchanges, dialogue mechanisms, war legacy settlement, training, U.N. peacekeeping, military service links, rescue operations, cybersecurity, defense industry, military medicine, disaster relief, and multilateral coordination.
Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang urged continued U.S. support to boost Viet Nam's capacity in tackling landmines and chemical contamination, notably aiding the Viet Nam National Mine Action Center (VNMAC) in Quang Ngai province under IMAS standards toward eliminating unexploded ordnance by 2045.
He called for executing agreements on the Bien Hoa project and the Inclusion Project, expanding archival sharing on fallen or missing Vietnamese soldiers, and improving DNA testing capabilities to expedite the Government's 500-day campaign, while reaffirming Viet Nam's commitment to facilitating U.S. MIA operations.
Assistant Secretary John Noh commended defense cooperation results, affirming U.S. commitment to peaceful, constructive relations while highlighting archival exchanges, joint research, and technology applications in addressing war legacies.
The two sides also discussed regional and global affairs, concluding the event with the signing of the dialogue minutes.
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Delegates from the two countries attending the dialogue pose for a group photo. |
Earlier, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang met with Hung Cao, Acting Secretary of the U.S. Navy. He welcomed expanding defense ties and urged the U.S. to broaden the Inclusion Project, complete Bien Hoa dioxin cleanup commitments, assist the 2045 mine-clearance target, and coordinate closely in recovering and identifying war casualties from both sides.
Acting Secretary Hung Cao praised bilateral relations, noting defense ties foster regional security, and sought broader cooperation in war legacy remediation, maritime security, capacity building, and disaster response.
Meeting with Tim Rieser, an aide to former Senator Patrick Leahy, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang outlined the 500-day campaign to collect DNA, establish genetic databases, and clear mines to identify fallen soldiers, welcoming U.S. archival and testing technology support.
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Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang speaks with Tim Rieser, an aide to former Senator Patrick Leahy. |
Tim Rieser praised Viet Nam's contributions to regional and global peace and stability and expressed his continued support for the country's efforts to address war legacy. He noted that Viet Nam and the U.S. were demonstrating a meaningful model for international relations by using dialogue to resolve differences, cooperation to address historical legacies and joint efforts to build a shared future. He also expressed his hope that war legacy remediation would remain a foundation for stronger bilateral relations and contribute to the two countries' shared goals of peace and prosperity.
Translated by Tran Hoai