The Vietnam Coast Guard has sought to improve its external relations and international collaboration, providing favorable conditions for the execution of its assigned tasks and contributing to the maintenance of a peaceful and stable environment for national construction and defense.

Vietnam Coast Guard ship. Photo: VN express

The signing of a protocol on a hotline communication mechanism with the Cambodia National Committee of Maritime Security, a letter of intent with the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) in 2017, and a letter of intent with Malaysia in 2019 are among the highlights of the force's international cooperation. The force's Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Indonesia and the Philippines are now in the planning stages.

Many practical and productive cooperation actions have been carried out as a result of those documents, including those that have aided Vietnam's battle against illicit, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in recent years.

Vietnam Coast Guard marching. Photo: Vietnam Coast Guard

Many countries, including the United States, Japan, India, and the Republic of Korea, have offered Vietnam practical and effective assistance in the form of equipment, ships, logistical facilities, and training to improve the capacity and knowledge of Vietnam's coast guards in the areas of law, security, and safety in maritime law enforcement.

The visits and exchanges of Vietnam Coast Guard vessels to India in 2018 and Japan in 2019 helped to strengthen the force's position in the region and around the world. These excursions allowed the military to organize training for its officers and troops, so increasing its capabilities.

Vietnam Coast Guard ships on duty. Photo: Vietnamnet

Furthermore, the Vietnam Coast Guard has actively and responsibly participated in international processes and forums such as the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP), the Southeast Asia Maritime Law Enforcement Initiative (SEAMLEI), and the Coast Guard Global Summit (CGGS).

Vietnamese Coast Guards practicing first aid for people in distress at sea. Photo: Vietnam Coast Guard News

The force will maintain its external ties and collaboration with foreign counterparts in the future, with a focus on nations in the region, those with maritime regions bordering Vietnam, and traditional partners.

Vietnamese Coast Guards on Ship 256 salute the Thai Navy ship with hand flags as part of their routine. Photo: Vietnam Coast Guard News

The proactive extension of the Vietnam Coast Guard's contacts with other countries' maritime law enforcement agencies has aided in the maintenance of security, order, safety, peace, and stability in Vietnamese seas. The actions also participated in the strengthening of the country's ties with Southeast Asian states. External initiatives like these send a message of cooperation, expansion, and integration.

The Southwest Sea area is the area that international ships pass by, where there are many trade activities and fishing activities of fishermen. During the joint patrols, the naval fleets of the countries also cooperated with neighboring countries as Thailand in search and rescue exercises at sea to be ready to handle any situation well. The Guard directs fishing boats of the two countries not to violate the fishing line beyond the delimitation of sea areas between the two countries. These coordinated activities have made an important contribution to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment in the sea bordering between Vietnam and neighboring countries.

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