By Francesca Stevens

Dec 13, 2025 (Bloomberg) – The US is looking to strengthen its defense ties with Vietnam, as highlighted by the US ambassador to the country. This occurs while both nations are finalizing details of a trade agreement.

US Ambassador Marc Knapper stated in Hanoi on Saturday, “Defense trade will increasingly become an important aspect of our relations.” He added, “We both want a free and open South China Sea, as well as peace, stability, and prosperity in this region, and we expect this to continue.”

This week, the guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls and the assault ship USS Tripoli arrived at Danang port, bringing around 2,300 sailors and marines to the city as part of regular operations of the US 7th Fleet. This move comes amid increased attention to navigation freedom and security in the disputed areas of the South China Sea.

Knapper mentioned, “I believe we will see more ship visits in the upcoming year, leading to greater opportunities for our military leaders,” during a repatriation ceremony.

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Vietnamese officials have often expressed their intentions to purchase more significant American products, particularly in defense and national security, to reduce the trade surplus with the US, which reached $123.5 billion last year. This surplus was a point of contention with former President Donald Trump, who initially imposed a 46% “reciprocal” tariff on Vietnamese imports, later decreasing it to 20%.