US Military Humanitarian Programs to Converge in Vietnam's Quang Tri Province for Peace and Future Building

Quang Tri, a province in Vietnam with a history of intense conflict, is set to become a hub for peace and cooperation in 2026. For the first time, the US military's two major humanitarian initiatives, Pacific Partnership (PP) and Pacific Friendship (PF), will be jointly conducted here. This collaboration, approved by the Vietnamese government, signifies a shared commitment to building a future based on common values.

Pacific Partnership, the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief program by the US Navy in the Indo-Pacific, has been hosted by Vietnam 12 times since 2007. Pacific Friendship, organized by the US Army Pacific Command, focuses on humanitarian aid, disaster relief, medical support, and community engagement. In 2025, PF was introduced to Quang Tri with 13 practical activities.

The combined PP-PF 2026 event will run from June 22 to July 6, involving around 300 US military personnel and experts working alongside Vietnamese counterparts. They will engage in 25 activities spanning health, humanitarian aid, disaster prevention, construction, unexploded ordnance clearance, disaster management, and community exchange. These efforts aim to foster trust and build a stronger partnership between the two nations.

US Navy Captain Eric Bishoff examining a patient's teeth during a community engagement event, and US Navy Petty Officer Carl Cayetano checking a visual acuity measuring device highlight the hands-on nature of the programs. Major General E. Darrin Cox, Commander of the 18th Medical Command, emphasized the journey from conflict to a partnership focused on peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, a commitment visibly demonstrated by the ongoing work in Quang Tri.

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Our two countries have overcome a past shaped by conflict to build a partnership for the future, based on a sustained commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. That commitment is demonstrated by the very work happening here.