Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis met with Vietnamese Minister of National Defense Ngo Xuan Lich to discuss the growing U.S.-Vietnam defense relationship and regional security challenges.

The Secretary and the Minister of National Defense agreed on actions to deepen defense cooperation, including hosting the first visit by a U.S. aircraft carrier to Vietnam next year, expanding naval cooperation, and increasing information-sharing. The Secretary highlighted the robust level of peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, and Coast Guard cooperation, including the recent transfer of a former U.S. Coast Guard cutter to improve Vietnam‘s maritime law enforcement capabilities.