Vietnam expects the United States’ newly-appointed Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to continue contributing to the two countries’ relations, particularly in the military field, a spokesperson has stated.“The Vietnam – US comprehensive partnership is going well in many fields, including security and defense,” said Spokesperson of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang at a press meeting on Thursday.
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper speaks after he was sworn in as President Donald Trump looks on in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 23, 2019. Photo: Nicholas Kamm/AFP
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Hang’s statement comes as Vietnam and the US have been fostering military ties and resolving war legacies.
The US Coast Guard transferred to Vietnam a Hamilton-class cutter in 2017, which has joined Vietnam’s Coast Guard. Vietnam has also received 12 Metal Shark patrol boats from its former war foe over the past two years.
Phil Davidson, Commander of the Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), in February said the US could hand over another Coast Guard cutter, ScanEagle UAVs and several Beechcraft T-6 Texan II single-engine turboprop aircraft, according to VnExpress.
In late May, senior lieutenant Dang Duc Toai became the first Vietnamese graduated from the Aviation Leadership Program (ALP) which provides undergraduate pilot training scholarships to students of the US partners and developing countries.
In May 2016, during his visit to Vietnam, President Obama lifted the embargo on sales of lethal arms imposed on Vietnam during several decades.
