US aircraft carrier George Washington makes a rare port call in Vietnam

For the fourth time since the Vietnam War, a United States aircraft carrier has made a port call in Vietnam, promoting joint security ties at a time when tariffs and the war in Iran have hurt U.S. influence across Asia. The USS George Washington pulled into Da Nang for a seven-day stay, the longest for a U.S. warship since the two countries restored relations in 1995.

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We consider this to be an extremely important visit for a variety of reasons.

Both countries celebrated the visit as a sign of progress in their relationship. Captain Nicholas DeLeo, the ship's commander, called it "an extremely important visit for a variety of reasons," adding that the 5,000 sailors were there "to build on this great relationship with the Vietnamese people."

Vietnam has become a popular naval stopover as it pursues a foreign policy of multi-alignment, seeking bonds beyond the U.S.-China binary. This year alone, Vietnam has hosted naval vessels from Russia, China, India, Indonesia, Australia, and Japan. For the United States, Vietnam's strategic location is crucial for efforts to counter Beijing's expanding control over Asia's disputed islands and vital commercial waterways.

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to build on this great relationship with the Vietnamese people.

U.S. officials view the port visit as a way to signal reassurance to Vietnam and strength to China. Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, the US Indo-Pacific Commander, emphasizes the concept of "presence produces deterrence," stating that "credible, prompt and sustained combat power, visible across the Indo-Pacific region, will deter acts of military aggression that destabilize the region."

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Presence produces deterrence.

Despite the U.S. officials' enthusiasm, Vietnam's propaganda commission issued guidance to local media, warning them "not to make too much of the carrier's arrival" and to "emphasize that this is a routine friendship and exchange activity; do not glorify U.S. power." This reflects Vietnam's careful balancing act, seeking to show China it has options while avoiding signals that it is becoming part of a U.S. containment strategy.

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Credible, prompt and sustained combat power, visible across the Indo-Pacific region, will deter acts of military aggression that destabilize the region.