RTAF – Air Attaché Office in Hanoi

DEFENSE NEWS BULLETIN 30.June.2022

1. VIETNAM ATTENDS EUROSATORY 2022 DEFENSE EXHIBITION.

Vietnam has been a frequent guest at the Eurosatory since 1998, as the country aims to update on new technologies and scientific advancements from armies around the world.

(The Vietnamese delegation at the event)

A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Chief of the General Staff of Vietnam People’s Army Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Nghia attended the Eurosatory, one of the world’s largest international exhibitions on land and air defense and security held in France from June 13 to 17.

According to the organizer, more than 1,800 exhibitors from 60 countries participate in this event, presenting a variety of equipment, vehicles, and systems dedicated to peacekeeping and security.

Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defence has been taking part in the exhibition since 1998, to update on new technologies and scientific advancements from armies around the world, as well as to seek cooperation opportunities.

As part of the visit, the delegation held meetings with Lieutenant General Thierry Marchand, head of the Directorate of Security and Defense Cooperation under the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Brigadier General Geoffroy de Larouziere, Deputy Chief of French Army Staff in charge of foreign relations; and Brigadier General Caroline Salahun, Deputy Head of the Directorate of International Cooperation in Asia-Pacific under the Directorate General of Armaments of France.

At these meetings, both sides expressed their delights at the progress of defense cooperation between Vietnam and France, hoping to further strengthen the relations in the coming time, especially in training, military medicine, and UN peacekeeping.

On this occasion, Nghia invited representatives from the French Ministry of Armed Forces and French defense businesses to attend Vietnam’s first International Defence Expo 2022, scheduled to take place in December 2022.

(By The World and Vietnam Report)

2. PREPARATION FOR VIETNAM DEFENSE 2022 SPED UP.

The Organizing Committee for the Preparation for Vietnam International Defense Expo 2022 (Vietnam Defense 2022) convened a meeting on June 6 at the headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense.

Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and Head of the organizing committee, chaired the event.

(Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan chairs the event)

At the meeting, representatives of relevant sub-committees, agencies and units reported on their preparatory duties, and discussed other approaches to ensure good task performance.

Acknowledging and highly appreciating high sense of responsibility and active preparation of relevant sub-committees, agencies, and units for the expo, General Tan asked them to continue to work closely with one another to speed up the preparation progress with a focus on the expo’s agenda, communications, advertisement, protocol, security and safety assurance.

The Vietnam Defense 2022 hosted by the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense is scheduled to take place in Hanoi this December. In this expo, cutting-edge combat vehicles, technologies, systems and other equipment for air force, navy, army, signal force, etc., will be showcased.

The expo is expected to gather the world’s leading equipment and service suppliers for meeting, exchanging, evaluating products, and technologies, and introducing latest defense solutions to Vietnam and other countries in the region.

(By People’s Army Newspaper)

3. INDIA, VIETNAM INK NEW MILITARY LOGISTICS SUPPORT PACT.

The governments of India and Vietnam have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on mutual logistics support for their armed forces.

As part of the agreement, troops from the two nations will be allowed to use each other’s bases for repairs and to replenish supplies.

The pact is seen as a “major upswing” in India-Vietnam strategic and bilateral ties, especially since both countries have shared concerns over China.

“In these times of increasing cooperative engagements between the defense forces of the two countries, this is a major step towards simplifying procedures for mutually beneficial logistic support,” the Indian defense ministry said in a statement.

The signing happened during a three-day visit to Hanoi by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh resulting in “fruitful” talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Phan Van Giang.

Vietnam’s ministry stated that the memorandum is the first such agreement its government has signed with any nation.

(Vietnamese soldiers attending a ceremony in Hanoi)

‘India-Vietnam Defence Partnership Towards 2030’

The mutual logistics support agreement is part of a joint vision statement called “India-Vietnam Defence Partnership Towards 2030.”

The partnership aims to expand and strengthen the “scope and scale” of the two countries’ defense ties by 2030.

“We had wide-ranging discussions on effective and practical initiatives to further expand bilateral defense engagements and regional and global issues,” Singh stressed.

He stated that India and Vietnam have the “most trustworthy relations with broader convergence of interests and common concerns.”

The minister is scheduled to talk to Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh about further bolstering bilateral ties.

(By The Defense Post)

4. VIETNAM, LAOS STRENGTHEN DEFENSE TIES.

Vietnamese and Lao defence ministries will work to implement their cooperation plan in 2022, as agreed by their deputy ministers on Thursday.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Deputy Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, and Lieutenant General Khamliang Outhakaysone, Deputy Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Lao People’s Army, reached the consensus during their talks in Hanoi as part of the Lao officer’s visit to Vietnam from June 1 to 4.

They shared the view that cooperation in defence remains a pillar in the Vietnam-Laos relationship, with regular meetings and visits, and effective implementation of collaboration mechanisms.

The two sides spoke of the first Vietnam-Laos Border Defence Friendship Exchange last December, along with partnerships between military zones and border guards.

Joint efforts have been made in the combat against cross-border crimes, contributing to building a shared borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and development, they said.

They held that the mutual support of medical equipment for the COVID-19 fight vividly demonstrates the solidarity between the two armies.

The two sides agreed to step up information sharing between their border guards, conduct more joint patrols and continue to coordinate to fight against crimes and illegal migration, and ensuring security and safety in border areas. They will also pay more attention to personnel training and information work.

Following the talks, Khamliang Outhakaysone paid a courtesy visit to Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang, who said cooperation in bilateral defence has been deepened across spheres.

The Vietnamese Defence Ministry hopes for stronger multi-faceted cooperation between the two sides, the General noted.

(By The Voice of Vietnam – VOV World)

5. NAVY HOSPITAL SHIP ARRIVES IN VIETNAM FOR PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP.

Phu Yen, Vietnam, Jun 19, 2022. The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) arrived at Vung Ro Port, Phu Yen, Vietnam, marking the first stop for Pacific Partnership 2022 (PP22).

Now in its 17th year, Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. In Vietnam, the Pacific Partnership 22 team, comprised of representatives from Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, will work together with their Vietnamese counterparts on a range of activities and projects benefiting the local community in Phu Yen and the people of Vietnam.

 While in Phu Yen, Pacific Partnership will provide tailored medical, dental care; construct new buildings for Lam Son Primary School, An Ninh Dong, and Phuoc Hau Primary School; and exchange expertise related to disaster response processes and procedures.  Additionally, the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band will perform alongside Vietnamese musicians during a variety of community engagements.

(By The US Embassy & Consulate in Vietnam Website).

6. ADF PERSONNEL ARRIVE IN VIETNAM FOR PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP.

A contingent of specialist Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel have arrived in Vietnam to participate in Pacific Partnership 2022.

Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific region, with ADF personnel joining the United States-led mission to provide specialist support.

(ADF arrive into Vietnam for Pacific Partnership – Defence Review Asia)

Approximately 30 ADF personnel will be involved in the mission, with a team of medical specialists arriving in Vietnam yesterday to join ADF Gender, Peace and Security Advisors and Royal Australian Navy musicians already on board United States Military Sealift Command hospital ship, USNS Mercy.

Deputy Chief of Joint Operations, Air Vice-Marshal Michael Kitcher, AM, DSM, said the ADF’s support to Pacific Partnership 2022 is about enhancing resilience and preparedness in the Indo-Pacific region.

“ADF participation in Pacific Partnership 2022 demonstrates our commitment to fostering enduring partnerships, trust and interoperability between nations in our region,” Air Vice-Marshal Kitcher said.

“COVID-19 restrictions meant we haven’t been able to fully participate in the program since 2019, so it’s a great opportunity to once again work closely with partner and host nations, learning from one another and building capacity within the region.

“This is an important opportunity to enhance our interoperability with other nations and demonstrate that we remain ready to respond, with our partners, if and when our regional neighbours need our help.”

During the three week visit to Vietnam, the ADF contingent will provide tailored medical, dental and surgical support, guidance on Gender, Peace and Security considerations for operations and participate in a variety of training opportunities and information exchanges.

Now in its 17th year, Pacific Partnership is aimed at promoting multilateral disaster management resilience in host countries and strengthening alliances.

(By Australian Government – Defense website)

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