Phan Van Giang attends 20th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Cebu

At the meeting, Phan affirmed Viet Nam's strongest support for the Philippines in successfully fulfilling its responsibilities as the ASEAN Chair in 2026.

He underscored the need to further strengthen ASEAN solidarity and strength so that the bloc could respond flexibly and proactively to regional security challenges, with a view to building a peaceful, secure and resilient region.

The 20th ADMM issued the Joint Statement on Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and the 20th Anniversary of the ADMM: Navigating Our Future, Together. The Ministers also agreed on various new ADMM initiatives and activities.

ASEAN, U.S. to enhance defense cooperation

At the ASEAN-U.S. Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting held on the same day, Phan joined ASEAN defense ministers and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to discuss challenges confronting the Indo-Pacific and the future of ASEAN-U.S. defense cooperation.

Addressing the event, the Vietnamese official highlighted that ASEAN-U.S. relations have developed substantially and comprehensively over nearly half a century.

The elevation of ASEAN-U.S. relations into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022 and the adoption of the ASEAN-U.S. Joint Vision Statement in October 2025 reflect both sides' strong commitment to a peaceful, stable and prosperous region, noted Phan.

ASEAN attaches importance to the U.S.' consistent support for bolc's centrality and its active participation in ASEAN-led mechanisms, particularly the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), he stated.

Thought the global and regional situation continues to evolve in a complex and unpredictable manner, Phan affirmed Viet Nam remains steadfast with its position that all disputes must be settled by peaceful means on the basis of international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

All parties should fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and work towards the early conclusion of a substantive, effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) that is consistent with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.

To further deepen ASEAN-US defense cooperation and make it more substantive and effective, he called for maintaining engagement channels and strategic dialogues.

The ASEAN-U.S. Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting provides an opportunity for both sides to exchange views on issues of mutual concern, thereby enhancing mutual understanding and building trust while helping shape the direction of ASEAN-U.S. defense cooperation, shared Phan.

He suggested both sides improve the effectiveness of practical cooperation activities, including the ASEAN-U.S. Maritime Exercise, the ASEAN Young Leaders Program and initiatives to support capacity-building for ASEAN member states.

The Vietnamese official expressed his hope that the U.S. would continue to participate and support the ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Groups.

Phan underlined the need to foster stronger ties in addressing non-traditional security challenges and emerging technologies.

He also called for expanding collaboration in areas such as maritime security, including enhancing maritime domain awareness, search and rescue capabilities, and maritime law enforcement; climate change response; providing equipment and sharing advanced technologies; cybersecurity; AI; and coping with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incidents.

He expressed confidence that building on existing commitments and joint efforts, ASEAN-U.S. defense cooperation would continue to develop substantively and contribute effectively to the ASEAN-U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, helping safeguard regional peace, stability and shared prosperity./.