On May 31, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth met with Vietnam's Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang. Both leaders appreciated progress in the bilateral defense relationship, reflecting that 2025 is the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The leaders discussed opportunities to deepen defense cooperation, including on defense trade and information sharing, and reaffirmed that war legacy issues are a top priority of the Trump Administration.
Secretary Hegseth expressed that the Trump Administration values Vietnam's leadership in maintaining peace and stability in Southeast Asia. The Secretary applauded Vietnam's rapid military modernization, which shows Vietnam's commitment to regional security and a free and open Indo-Pacific.