The dialogue was co-chaired by Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defence of Vietnam, and John Noh, Assistant Secretary of Defence of the United States for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs.

They held that defence cooperation between the two countries has advanced effectively based on previously signed agreements and high-level directives, including established dialogue mechanisms, and those on defence industry collaboration, training, UN peacekeeping operations, military medicine, and multilateral consultations, especially within the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

With war legacy cooperation remaining a standout feature of bilateral relations, Chien praised the US government’s new pledge of US$130 million for dioxin remediation at Bien Hoa Airbase, raising the total US grant to US$430 million.

Support programmes for Agent Orange victims have also been expanded, and joint activities to search for missing US servicemen in action (MIA) have yielded concrete results, including four joint excavation missions and the repatriation of eight sets of remains during the past year.

Since August 2024, with support from Harvard University, the two sides have cooperated to return 43 memorabilia files of Vietnamese veterans to their families, promoting reconciliation and healing.

Looking ahead, both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas such as delegation exchanges, military medical training, peacekeeping, and sustained participation in multilateral defence forums. Vietnam also welcomed US military personnel to study Vietnamese at the Military Science Academy and join international defence courses.

Chien affirmed Vietnam’s commitment to continuing war legacy cooperation, including public outreach efforts to raise awareness domestically and internationally of this humanitarian partnership.

Exchanging views on regional and global security issues, he reaffirmed Vietnam’s independent and peaceful foreign policy, including its consistent “Four No’s” defence policy.

With regard to the issue of the East Sea, known internationally as the South China Sea, the Vietnamese side stressed the need to resolve disputes peacefully, and adhere to the Declaration on Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC) as well as international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), while soon achieving an effective and substantive Code of Conduct (COC).

Meanwhile, Noh reiterated appreciation for Vietnam’s regional role and expressed Washington’s interest in strengthening cooperation for peace and development. He recalled the February 2025 phone call between the two defence chiefs, during which US Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed support for a strong, independent Vietnam.

Noh expressed strong US backing for war legacy cooperation, recognising its humanitarian significance and value to bilateral peace-building. He voiced hope for effective implementation of the Joint Vision Statement on Defence Cooperation signed in September 2024, and for expanded collaboration in new areas of mutual interest.

At the end of the dialogue, both sides signed the minutes of the 13th Vietnam–US Defence Policy Dialogue, and handed over war memorabilia records. The Vietnamese side handed over a letter from Defence Minister Phan Van Giang to his US counterpart Pete Hegseth, highlighting progress in defence ties and urging US support in promoting trade and tariff negotiations beneficial to both countries.

Defense chiefs of Vietnam and United States hold phone talks

VOV.VN - General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defense of Vietnam, held a phone conversation with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on February 7 evening to discuss defense cooperation between the two countries.