(Press Release)
July 15, 2026
Japan Ministry of Defense
On July 13, 2026, Minister of Defense Koizumi held a meeting with H.E. General Phan Van Giang, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, who was visiting Japan. On July 15, Minister Koizumi held an official luncheon with Minister Giang.
- At the outset, Minister Koizumi welcomed Minister Giang's visit to Japan, his first in five years and stated that Vietnam is an important partner in maintaining peace and stability in Indo-Pacific region. He stressed the importance of further strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Japan and Viet Nam and advancing concrete cooperation in the security field amid an increasingly severe international security environment. Minister Giang expressed his concurrence, and the two ministers held substantive discussions aimed at further enhancing defense cooperation between the two countries.
- The two ministers exchanged views extensively on regional affairs, including the situations in the East China Sea and the South China Sea and reaffirmed the importance of respecting freedom of navigation and overflight and of complying with international law, including UNCLOS. They also welcomed the active progress in people-to-people exchanges, including high-level exchanges and the acceptance of Vietnamese cadets at the National Defense Academy and other educational institutions, as well as reciprocal unit visits, port calls and goodwill drill, and capacity building conducted among the ground, maritime, and air services. They confirmed that Japan and Viet Nam would continue to promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation, including in the fields of UN Peacekeeping Operations and cybersecurity, and contribute to regional peace and stability.
- The two ministers concurred that efforts in defense equipment and technology cooperation should be further strengthened. Under their leadership, they agreed to commence discussions toward realizing concrete cooperation, including the possibility of the joint development and production of fast landing craft. They also concurred on further strengthening these efforts by promoting defense industrial cooperation among other areas.
Japan-Vietnam Defense Ministerial Meeting (PDF)