越南海防隊訪問美國海岸防衛隊(USCGC)，在西雅圖登上巡防艦「約翰.米克」號(USCGC John Midgett, WHEC-726)參訪
Let's start off the Lunar New Year right with some good news.
Last week on January 14th, personnel from the Vietnam Coast Guard arrived in Seattle to familiarized themselves with the USCGC John Midgett (WHEC-726). The Americans are planning to decommission this Hamilton-class cutter on March 26st before handing it over to the VCG thus making the Midgett the second Hamilton operated by the VCG after the former USCGC Morgenthau which is now serving in Vietnam as the patrol ship 'CSB-8020'.
The handover of the Midgett will fulfill 2 out of 3 Hamilton cutters that the VCG requested. If Vietnam can obtain one more Hamilton after the Midgett, the original request for three cutters will be complete. However, rival countries such as the Philippines, Nigeria, and several others are also vying for the leftover Hamiltons as the United States works to phase them out in favor of their new National Security Cutters.
The transfer of coast guard vessels was made possible following US President Barrack Obama's decision to remove the arms embargo on Vietnam (though not without certain restrictions) in 2016. Not only have US-Vietnamese relationships improved over the decades but Vietnam has proven itself to be one of the most resistant countries against the expanding Chinese presence in the South China Sea while other nations are simply bowing to Chinese influence. Although not true allies, Vietnam is seen as a vital strategic partner to counter China's militarization of the SCS. Strengthening the ability of Vietnam to directly enforce & protect Vietnamese sovereignty in the SCS directly opposes Chinese goals.
Images sourced from DVIDSHub.
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