US and Vietnam Discuss Strengthening Partnership in Light of Putin Visit

The United States and Vietnam discussed strengthening their strategic partnership in a meeting following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to the country. According to Bloomberg, citing a statement from the Vietnamese government, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink met with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son on June 21.

The visit by the American diplomat to Vietnam came after criticism from the United States regarding Putin’s visit. “The US confirmed its commitment to supporting a strong and prosperous Vietnam,” the Southeast Asian country’s government statement said.

Kritenbrink also acknowledged that the U.S. welcomes and values Vietnam’s growing role in multilateral and regional forums, Bloomberg noted.

During a separate briefing, the American diplomat stated that the trust between the two countries “has never been stronger and deeper than it is now,” as reported by the Vietnamese portal Dan Tri.

Earlier, Senators from the US Congress had introduced a bill to officially designate Russia as “a state sponsor of terrorism” following a security agreement between Vladimir Putin and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.