Accordingly, the Vietnamese crew will take part in different joint activities, including PHOTOEX (moving in formation for aerial photography), visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) and a night voyage.

AUMX was first proposed by the U.S. Defense Minister at the unofficial Meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ and U.S.’s Defense Ministers in October 2017 in the Philippines and was agreed during the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting in October 2018 in Singapore. Each exercise is unique as it does not follow a regular mechanism.

The exercise aims to strengthen friendship, build trust and raise coordination abilities among navies of ASEAN member countries and the U.S. It is a chance for participating countries to meet and share experience in ensuring maritime security.

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Vietnamese crewmembers preparing to leave the port
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Ship 18 leaves Military Port of Brigade 171.
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Maritime officers performing their duties on the ship

Translated by Tran Hoai