Thayer Consultancy Background Brief

ABN # 65 648 097 123

USS Carl Vinson Visits Vietnam
– What Next?
March 6, 2018

The United States aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson made a port call today in Da Nang,
Viet Nam. The arrival of the USS Carl Vinson strike group’s 5,500 sailors represents the
first time such a large contingent of American military personnel has landed on
Vietnamese soil since the United States withdrew troops withdrew in 1973.
On the occasion of this event, we request your assessment of the following:
Q1- How WILL visit of THE USS Carl Vinson affect US-Vietnam defense and security
cooperation?
ANSWER: This visit of the USS Carl Vinson was possible because of increased strategic
trust (lòng tin chiến lược) between Hanoi and Washington. The visit by the USS Carl
Vinson to Tien Sa port, Da Nang City, has now set the precedent for future visits by
U.S. aircraft carriers and the interaction of U.S. military personnel with their
Vietnamese counterparts and the citizens of Da Nang. This visit is but one aspect of
U.S.-Vietnam defence cooperation under the 2011 Memorandum of Understanding
and the 2015 Joint Vision Statement on Defence Cooperation.
Q2-What is the message that USS Carl Vinson’s visit intended to deliver? Is it only
about China?
ANSWER: The visit by the USS Carl Vinson carries several messages. First, Vietnam and
the United States both support freedom of navigation in the East Sea. Vietnam
supports the operations of the U.S. Navy as long as they contribute positively to
regional peace, security and stability. In other words, both sides are in agreement on
this issue.
Second, the visit by the USS Carl Vinson is a tangible demonstration that the U.S. under
the Trump Administration will remain engaged in maintaining the balance of power in
Southeast Asia. The US. seeks to offer a counter-balance to China’s military presence
and the pressure and intimidation that Beijing exercises on regional states.
Third, Vietnam signals that although it welcomes the U.S. Navy it will continue to
maintain its strategic autonomy and independence in the region.
Fourth, the sheer power of the Carrier Strike Group accompanying the USS Carl Vinson
demonstrates that the U.S. Navy remains the most powerful military force regionally
and globally.
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Q3- What else can we el expect from United States after the visit of the USS Carl
Vinson?
ANSWER: The visit of the USS Carl Vinson is just one manifestation of growing defence
cooperation between the U.S. and Vietnam. It represents a gradual expansion in
relations. Vietnam and the U.S. have conducted naval engagement activities but not
joint military exercises up to now.
Within the broader context of relations between the two countries under President
Trump, it is likely that there will be increased cooperation in defence technology. The
Joint Statement issued on May 31, 2017 between President Trump and Prime Minister
Nguyen Xuan Phuc stated that PM Phuc, “expressed interest in acquiring more
defense equipment from the United States, including additional Coast Guard cutters.”

Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, “USS Carl Vinson Visits Vietnam – What Next?,”
Thayer Consultancy Background Brief, March 6, 2018. All background briefs are posted
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Thayer Consultancy provides political analysis of current regional security issues and
other research support to selected clients. Thayer Consultancy was officially
registered as a small business in Australia in 2002.