Vietnam, US sign deal to boost war legacy cooperation

THE HANOI TIMES — Vietnam and the US have deepened defense ties with a new agreement to tackle war legacies, focusing on unexploded ordnance clearance and dioxin remediation.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed on October 31 in Hanoi by the Ministry of National Defense and the US Department of Defense, highlights the two nations’ commitment to postwar recovery under their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The signing ceremony, co-chaired by Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense, and US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Evans Knapper, marks a new phase in bilateral defense relations under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2023.

The MoU follows earlier agreements from 2011 and 2022 and reflects pledges in the 2023 Joint Statement that elevated Vietnam–US ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

According to Colonel Can Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Department of Military Science and Chief of Office of the Standing Office of the Steering Committee 701, the MoU aims to expand collaboration in five key areas.

The MoU covers clearing postwar unexploded ordnance across Vietnam; improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities, regardless of cause, in areas heavily sprayed with Agent Orange; cleaning up dioxin contamination linked to the Vietnam War at Bien Hoa Airport; supporting the search, recovery and identification of remains of Vietnamese martyrs and enhancing cooperation in the search for US service members missing in action in Vietnam.

Implementation will include information sharing, training, scientific research and joint field projects, with both sides establishing working groups to oversee coordination and progress.

Both sides also clearly identified their respective roles and general regulations for the implementation of the Memorandum. Each side has established a working group to facilitate coordination, planning and evaluation. 

Senior Lieutenant General Chien said that the signing was a “significant and meaningful milestone” as Vietnam and the US mark 30 years of diplomatic relations.

He highlighted joint achievements such as the complete dioxin cleanup at Danang Airport, ongoing remediation at Bien Hoa, and assistance to more than 30,000 victims of Agent Orange and persons with disabilities.

Over the years, the US has also helped Vietnam recover and repatriate the remains of more than 990 missing US service members, while providing 800,000 pages of wartime records aiding Vietnam’s search for its fallen soldiers.

“These achievements reflect the strong political commitment and goodwill of both governments and defense ministries in addressing war consequences,” said Chien

He expressed confidence that the new agreement will serve as a foundation for deeper and more effective collaboration, strengthening mutual trust and contributing to peace and sustainable development.

Ambassador Knapper welcomed Vietnam’s efforts and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to the partnership, saying that cooperation in war legacy issues has become a “solid foundation” for advancing bilateral relations in other areas.

The signing of this Memorandum reaffirms the strong spirit of cooperation between the US and Vietnam. Together, the two sides are building trust, healing war wounds and paving the way for a stronger future partnership, he said.