Marc Knapper upbeat about future of Vietnam – US strategic partnership

Ambassador Knapper made the statement during his meeting with the media on the sidelines of a Hanoi conference on February 17 that reviewed the settlement of wartime unexploded ordnance (UXO).

He said the co-operative relationship between the both sides is of a special significance as it has developed across all fields, including security, trade, investment, health care, energy, science, and technology.

We expect this relationship will continue to thrive in the future, said the Ambassador.

According to the diplomat, the US has adopted an Indo-Pacific Strategy that aims to establish a free, open, and secure region to adapt to the 21st century’s challenges and seize upon opportunities, and Vietnam is part of that strategy.

The US highly values Vietnam’s role and position in the region and has subsequently outlined a future path for co-operation between the two countries in the near future, said the Ambassador.

Ambassador Knapper was nominated by President Joe Biden as new US Ambassador to Vietnam to succeed Daniel Kritenbrink. The nomination was granted approval by the US Senate in December, 2021.

During a hearing at the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee in July, the diplomat said that the US and Vietnam were developing the comprehensive partnership and it is anticipated that this relationship will soon be lifted to the status of a strategic partnership.

He said that promoting security co-operation between the two countries is a top priority during his term.

The Ambassador has spent almost his entire career, spanning over 25 years, working on the policy issues of the East Asian region, along with studying its various languages and cultures.

He speaks Vietnamese and for three years has led the political section of the US Embassy in Hanoi.