Vietnam visit strengthens military ties

  • Published
  • By Maj. Dave Griesmer
  • U.S. Pacific Command Public Affairs
CAMP SMITH, Hawaii (AFPN) --  The U.S. Pacific Command deputy commander met with military and civilian leaders in Vietnam recently, looking for opportunities to build upon a small yet developing relationship and to identify possible future military engagement activities.

Lt. Gen. Daniel P. Leaf led a military delegation that stopped in Hanoi and Nha Trang to discuss areas of mutual interest with Vietnamese leaders and to expand military cooperation efforts.

"The United States and Vietnam have shared interests in many areas including a long standing interest in finding persons missing from combat, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, weather warning and other areas where our interests intersect and we can work together," the general said.

In Hanoi, General Leaf met with Lt. Gen. Nguyen Duc Soat, deputy chief of the general staff of the People's Army of Vietnam and discussed areas for future cooperation.

Both delegations were in agreement on the need to build upon the current relationship and find new engagement activities that would benefit both militaries.

"I am impressed by the professionalism and dedication of my Vietnamese counterparts and their sense of mission for their country, but also for their overall role in the future of the Pacific region," General Leaf said.

The Vietnamese delegation asked about the possibility of sending students to study at U.S. military academies, participating in military medicine and information technology training and procuring replacement parts for existing equipment.

Current U.S. military activities with Vietnam include annual U.S. Navy ship visits, subject matter expert exchanges and medical assistance and training. Another area of significant U.S. interest is the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command detachment in Vietnam that works to locate, identify and return remains of U.S. servicemembers from the Vietnam War.

Also discussed were opportunities for weather forecasting training that would help Vietnam officials better predict and prepare for tsunamis and storms.

The U.S. delegation asked to build upon a Vietnamese proposal that the two militaries participate in a search and rescue exercise. In addition, the delegation inquired about future humanitarian assistance opportunities such as medical programs and engineering projects.

"We took the next step of defining what we will do in a variety of areas and what information is needed to reach decisions and expand our understanding," the general said. "What we did represented detailed, constructive work that will allow us to make progress."

Following the meeting in Hanoi, the delegation traveled to Nha Trang, an expanding international tourist destination located in the Khanh Hoa province on the central coast. Nha Trang is also home to Vietnam's air force academy.

After meeting with local community and business leaders, the general met with the leaders and staff instructors at the academy to learn how the Vietnamese air force conducts basic officer pilot training.

General Leaf also met with a class of air force cadets, toured the flight line and inspected the aircraft flown by cadets during their initial flight training.

"This visit contributed to a better understanding of how they train their pilots and how they might apply their expertise during disaster relief operations in the region," he said.

Overall, the meetings with military and civilian officials helped to sustain the progress made during previous visits and moved the relationship forward at a steady pace. Officials in both countries recognize the need to work together on regional issues of mutual interest.

"I am very optimistic about the Pacific region, I think there is great opportunity not just between the United States and Vietnam, but with other nations in the region, to build a peaceful and stable future in the Pacific," General Leaf said.  "I deeply respect the Vietnamese commitment to making a better world."

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