After a Major Upgrade, the US Military Wants to Take Things Further With Vietnam

U.S. military leaders are eyeing more cooperation with Vietnam in 2024, aiming to deepen a relationship that has expanded rapidly amid heightened tensions with China. “We’d really like to get to Vietnam,” Col. Brandon Teague, commander of the U.S. Army’s 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade, said in an interview at a conference in Washington, D.C. in October. “So we’d really like to partner with Vietnam, if possible, in the future.” Flynn met with Vietnamese army officials in Hanoi in November and reiterated the U.S. Army’s interest in expanding collaboration. Asked what cooperation the Pentagon wanted to pursue in 2024, Ford pointed to ongoing work on disaster response and military medicine as well as maritime security, including “helping Vietnam build its own maritime-domain awareness capabilities.” “One thing we are certainly focused on helping our partners with English-language training as well, because a lot of times when it comes down to the very tactical kinds of exchanges, things as basic as they need to actually use the same words and stuff for what they’re doing is a part of how we can grow” those exchanges, Ford added. Vietnam engages with countries “as long as it is within its interests, so I don’t think anyone is able to gear Vietnam away from any other country,” Le Thu said, adding that the U.S. should “manage” its expectations, as Hanoi “is not going to align its interest more to the U.S. if it’s not already in Vietnam’s interest.” That approach will likely limit military cooperation with the U.S., according to Nguyen Hung Son, vice president of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.