USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier arrives in Vietnam

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
25 Jun 2023 14:25

Over the past few weeks, Vietnam's foreign ministry had issued a call for Chinese vessels to leave Vietnam's waters that were allegedly trespassed.

Sailors man the rails as the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG-54) approaches the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) for a replenishment at sea in the South China Sea, June 17, 2023 (US Navy)

The USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier made a landing at the central Vietnamese city of Danang on Sunday, just weeks after the country raised concerns over the alleged entry of Chinese vessels into its waters.

This comes on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of a "comprehensive partnership" between Vietnam and its former enemy.

According to the American Embassy in Hanoi, the carrier made a call for the port of Danang in the company of two escort ships, namely the guided-missile cruisers USS Antietam and USS Robert Smalls.

As officials disembarked the carrier, they shook hands with their Vietnamese army counterparts in a short ceremony held on Sunday.

"More than 5,000 sailors aboard USS Ronald Reagan are eager to visit Danang and experience Vietnamese culture," USS Ronald Reagan's commanding officer Captain Daryle Cardone said in a statement.

Over the past few weeks, Vietnam's foreign ministry had issued a call for Chinese vessels to leave Vietnam's waters that were allegedly trespassed, which reportedly withdrew in early June.

Last month, Hanoi welcomed Indian naval ships in its Danang port, and earlier this week it received a port call from Japan's Cam Ranh warship in another port in the country's southeastern coast.

A spokesperson for Vietnam's foreign ministry said earlier in the week that port calls were an "ordinary friendship exchange for peace, stability, and cooperation and development in the region and the world".

The official added that strong bilateral relations are essential for Washington to remain the dominant power in the region.

"The US hopes that by sending one of their most formidable naval assets, they will have a trusted and reliable partner in Vietnam," he said.

On April 15, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an official visit to Hanoi during which he expressed intentions of boosting diplomatic relations.

"We think this is an auspicious time to elevate our existing partnership," Blinken said to reporters.

"We've had for the last 10 years this comprehensive partnership that has created an incredibly strong foundation of cooperation across many different areas. As a result, we think this is a good moment to go even further."

Analysts believe Hanoi is more hesitant to improve relations because it is afraid of upsetting Beijing, despite competing claims in the South China Sea. Their northern neighbor is also an important economic partner.

Vietnam's Prime Minister, Pham Minh Chinh, stated that Hanoi has approved "elevating our bilateral ties to a new height."