Vietnamese defense minister receives acting US Navy secretary

At the meeting, General Giang congratulated Cao on his appointment as acting secretary of the U.S. Navy and expressed confidence that he would continue to support and serve as an important bridge in strengthening ties between the two countries and their defense ministries.

General Giang said defense cooperation between Vietnam and the United States has been implemented effectively and practically in recent years, in line with the broader relationship between the two countries.

Key areas of cooperation include delegation exchanges, particularly at the senior level, training, United Nations peacekeeping operations, cooperation among military services, cybersecurity, maritime security, military medicine, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief.

Emphasizing the spirit of putting the past aside and looking toward the future, Deputy PM and Minister Giang said Vietnam continues to prioritize cooperation in addressing war legacy issues.

Based on the memorandum of understanding on promoting cooperation in overcoming war consequences signed in October 2025, Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense hopes the United States will fulfill its commitments to support Vietnam, including providing an additional US$130 million for the dioxin remediation project at Bien Hoa Airport.

He also suggested that both sides complete the project before 2030, helping provide a safer living environment for local residents.

General Giang affirmed that Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense will continue to coordinate closely and create the most favorable conditions for activities related to the search for U.S. military personnel missing in action during the war.

He also expressed hope that the United States would increase the sharing of information, documents, and memorabilia related to Vietnamese soldiers during the war and support Vietnam in enhancing DNA identification capabilities for war remains.

Such cooperation would contribute to the effective implementation of the Vietnamese government’s 500-day campaign aimed at accelerating the search, recovery, and identification of fallen soldiers’ remains.

General Giang said he believed Acting Secretary Hung Cao would continue directing efforts to further promote bilateral defense cooperation, particularly in the field of maritime security, thereby contributing positively to overall Vietnam-U.S. relations.

He also welcomed the participation of U.S. officials and defense companies in the third Vietnam International Defense Expo, scheduled for December this year in Hanoi.

For his part, Hung Cao thanked General Giang for receiving the delegation.

Expressing appreciation for the progress in Vietnam-U.S. defense cooperation, especially in the maritime sector, the acting secretary said he hoped both sides would continue to coordinate and expand cooperation in this field, further deepening bilateral ties.