Vietnam – US opened the Pacific Partnership and Friends program

Quang Tri Provincial People’s Committee and the US Navy and Army on the evening of June 22 opened the Pacific Partnership – Pacific Friends 2026 Program (PP-PF26) in Dong Hoi ward.

In the program lasting from June 22 to July 7, about 270 US soldiers, including active duty soldiers, reserve forces and members of the Oregon Air National Guard, will work directly with Vietnamese partners, as well as partner forces from the Canadian and German militaries.

The multinational force will jointly deploy more than 20 military-military and military-civilian cooperation activities in four focus areas, including construction, health, disaster response management and exchanges with the host country.

The Pacific Partnership program, chaired by the US Navy, is the largest annual humanitarian assistance and disaster preparedness preparedness program in the Indo-Pacific region.

Meanwhile, Friends of the Pacific is a multinational humanitarian assistance and training program hosted by the US Army, initiated in 2025, with activities related to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) in the fields of engineering, health and disaster management.

PP-PF26 is the first time the two Pacific Partnership and Pacific Friends programs have been jointly implemented within the framework of cooperation with Vietnam.

“Our cooperation activities in Quang Tri have special meaning because Quang Tri has long played a central role in reconciliation efforts and handling issues left over from the war,” Charge d’Affaires of the US diplomatic mission John McIntyre said at the opening ceremony.

Mr. McIntyre said that work such as disposing of mines and explosives left over from the war, supporting people with disabilities and improving community capacity have created the foundation for the current Vietnam-US defense and security cooperation relationship.

Mr. Hoang Nam, Vice Chairman of Quang Tri province, said that from initial efforts to overcome the consequences of war and humanitarian activities, Vietnam – the US have now built a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on the foundation of trust, mutual respect and working towards peace and prosperity.

According to Mr. Nam, PP-PF26 is a symbol of the spirit of sharing, cooperation and responsibility to the community in Vietnam – US cooperation. “The program brings practical activities in health, education, natural disaster response and development, contributing to connecting people, increasing understanding and strengthening friendship between countries,” he said.

At the event, acting Secretary of the US Navy Hung Cao recalled when the Pacific Partnership program in 2012 first came to Vinh City, where multinational expert teams performed medical examinations, surgeries, veterinary care and upgraded many local medical facilities.

In 2024, in Quang Ngai, program participants will continue to coordinate with Vietnamese experts to share experiences, exchange expertise and renovate schools, clinics and many community projects.

According to Mr. Hung Cao, the value of the Pacific Partnership program is not only measured in the number of projects or patients treated, but in the relationships built, knowledge shared and trust formed between partners before natural disasters occur.

“As people in the military, we often think about combat readiness through ships, aircraft, weapons systems and training certifications,” he said. “But the Pacific Partnership reminds us that readiness includes trust.”

According to the acting Secretary of the US Navy, trust between countries, military forces, communities, and people is the foundation of disaster preparedness.

“When disaster strikes, we don’t have time to get to know each other. We don’t have time to build relationships from the ground up. We have to know how to work together well in advance. And that’s what the Pacific Partnership program provides,” he said.

Mr. Hung Cao said that the program creates opportunities for parties to learn from each other, form habits of long-term cooperation and better prepare for future crises, because security will be strongest when built on a foundation of capacity that goes hand in hand with cooperation.

“The future of the Indo-Pacific region will not be shaped by any one country acting alone. That future will be shaped by countries working together, bound by shared values, mutual respect and a shared commitment to a secure and prosperous region,” he emphasized.