Defense minister attends ASEAN-U.S. Defense Ministers’ Informal Meeting, meets U.S. counterpart in Indonesia

At the meeting, Phan spoke highly of the U.S. commitment to advocating the centrality of ASEAN and fostering comprehensive cooperation with the region, particularly in spheres of economy, trade, investment, and science-technology.

Given traditional and non-traditional challenges in the region, Phan called on countries to join hands in coping with these challenges.

Safeguarding a peaceful and sustainable environment in the region, including in the East Sea is the shared responsibility and interests of all nations, he stated.

Viet Nam will continue making active contributions to strengthening cooperation between the U.S. and ASEAN, especially within the framework of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM).

On the sidelines of the meeting, Phan had a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, during which both sides vowed to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation in accordance with the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Cooperation, and Sustainable Development.

Lloyd Austin expressed thanks for Viet Nam's support in the search for missing U.S. soldiers' remains from the war in Viet Nam.

Phan, for his part, called for the U.S. Department of Defense's support for the Viet Nam International Defense Expo 2024./.