U.S. Defense Secretary Visits Vietnam Amidst Defense Cooperation and Funding Concerns

Hegseth's visit highlights the importance of U.S.-Vietnam defense relations, but funding concerns and Vietnam's other ties may shape the future of cooperation.

, and Administrator

2025 November 3 . 3:21 PM

1 min read

In the image there is a book with army tank and jeeps on it, it seems like a war along with a text... — In the image there is a book with army tank and jeeps on it, it seems like a war along with a text above it.

U.S. Defense Secretary Visits Vietnam Amidst Defense Cooperation and Funding Concerns

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Vietnam on Sunday, marking 30 years of diplomatic ties and two years since the upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The visit aimed to stabilize relations and create space for further defense cooperation.

Hegseth's trip comes amidst Vietnam's efforts to hedge against doubts about U.S. reliability in the Indo-Pacific. He handed over wartime artifacts to Vietnam's defense minister as part of reconciliation efforts. Cooperation on postwar issues, such as clearing unexploded ordnance and dioxin cleanup, remains key to U.S.-Vietnam relations.

Concerns about U.S. funding for these programs were temporarily halted but have since resumed. Vietnam, meanwhile, is exploring other defense ties. Its Communist Party chief recently visited North Korea, and there are reports of potential purchases of Russian Su-35 fighter jets.

The visit by Hegseth underscores the importance of U.S.-Vietnam defense relations. Despite Vietnam's hedging strategies, both countries recognize the value of cooperation, particularly in addressing postwar challenges. The path forward, however, may depend on addressing funding concerns and navigating Vietnam's other defense ties.