U.S. Pacific Command leader visits Vietnam to strengthen defense partnership
Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, traveled to Vietnam from Aug. 4-6 to meet with senior Vietnamese officials, reaffirming the growing U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
During his trip, Paparo met with Vietnamese Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong. The leaders discussed regional security priorities, defense cooperation initiatives and ways to expand military-to-military engagement between the two nations.
Paparo also met with General Secretary and President To Lam to discuss advancing the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including on security and defense cooperation. Highlighting a deep respect for Vietnam's history and military, Paparo's itinerary included a visit to the Le Quy Don Technical University, which is also known as at the Military Technical Academy, a premier Vietnamese university offering military and civilian training.
Paparo also toured the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, a UNESCO World Heritage site in central Hanoi, gaining valuable insight into Vietnam's military history.
As part of the visit, the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) and their director, Suzanne P. Vares-Lum, hosted an alumni event for Vietnamese graduates of APCSS programs. APCSS alumni exchanged ideas, strengthened professional networks, and explored collaborative solutions to regional security challenges.
Thirty-one years after the establishment of diplomatic relations, the United States and Vietnam are Comprehensive Strategic Partners, the highest level in Vietnam’s hierarchy of diplomatic relations.
Defense cooperation between the U.S. and Vietnam continues to expand in key areas, including maritime security, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, peacekeeping operations and addressing the legacies of war.
Highlighting the enduring U.S.-Vietnam partnership, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG 62), and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) arrived in Da Nang, July 30, 2026, for a scheduled port visit.
U.S. Pacific Command is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, prevailing in conflict.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
