CAM RANH BAY, vietnam — America’s top defense official traveled to Cam Ranh Bay on Sunday, a symbolic return to what was a vital naval base for the United States during the Vietnam War.
Leon Panetta’s visit to the bay — the first by a U.S. secretary of defense in more than three decades — was intended to highlight a deepening partnership between the United States and its former foe as both seek to counter the growing influence and military assertiveness of China.
“We’ve come a long way, particularly with regards to our defense relationship,” Panetta said, noting that “a great deal of blood was spilled in this war on all sides — by Americans and by Vietnamese.”
For the Obama administration, which is attempting to reorient its foreign policy and military toward Asia in part because of China’s rise, Vietnam represents a key opportunity.
Despite long-standing efforts by China to forge ties with Vietnam’s communist government, leaders in Hanoi are increasingly turning elsewhere for partnerships, most notably with the United States.
“This is a country that’s clearly thinking very strategically about China and its place in Asia,” said Ernie Bower, a Southeast Asia expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. “And Vietnam has turned out to be one of the more straight shooters. They call it like they see it on China. That’s something attractive to the U.S.”
Panetta’s stopover at Cam Rahn Bay was just the latest move on both sides to draw closer militarily.
The two countries signed a general agreement last year for defense cooperation, and during his two-day stay, Panetta will work on details for implementing that agreement with the defense minister and other top Vietnamese leaders.
Analysts with frequent contact with Vietnamese military leaders say there remain doubters about the budding U.S. relationship.
“Both sides are trying to avoid overplaying on the military-cooperation aspect,” Bower said, “and this visit to Cam Ranh Bay is right on the edge of that calculation.”
