Post by : Meena Ariff

During an official visit to Egypt, Vietnam’s Minister of National Defence, General Phan Văn Giang, met with Egyptian Minister of Defence, General Abdel Mageed Saqr, in Cairo. This meeting took place as part of President Lương Cường’s ongoing state visit to Egypt, aimed at deepening the long-standing relationship between the two nations. The two generals discussed ways to strengthen defence cooperation and explored future opportunities to collaborate across military and strategic sectors.

A Deep Bond of Friendship and Respect

At the start of the meeting, the Egyptian defence leader warmly welcomed the Vietnamese delegation. He praised Vietnam for its active role in maintaining peace and stability in both the regional and global landscape. He also highlighted the growing importance of defence relations within the broader partnership between Vietnam and Egypt. The Egyptian side expressed a strong desire to boost cooperation in the defence field, showing appreciation for Vietnam’s positive contributions to international affairs.

General Giang, in return, emphasized the deep and respectful friendship that has developed between Vietnam and Egypt over many years. He stated that President Lương Cường’s visit reflects Vietnam’s sincere commitment to strengthening its ties with Egypt. He also pointed out that defence cooperation is an area that both countries' leaders support and that this cooperation has great potential for development in the future.

Shared Views on Global Issues

Both sides used the meeting to share their views on various regional and global issues of common concern. General Giang reaffirmed Vietnam’s strong foreign policy based on independence, peace, self-reliance, friendship, and cooperation. He added that Vietnam values multilateral relationships and always aims to be a reliable friend to other countries and international organizations.

He further stated that Vietnam is determined to resolve any disputes through peaceful means, in line with international law. On defence matters, he mentioned Vietnam’s “four no’s” policy: no military alliances, no siding with one country against another, no foreign military bases in Vietnam, and no use or threat of force in international relations.

Plans to Strengthen Defence Cooperation

The two defence ministers agreed on various measures to deepen military cooperation. These include:

• Exchange of high-level delegations to increase trust and open more chances for future cooperation.
• Training and capacity building for military personnel.
• Cooperation in United Nations peacekeeping missions helps both countries contribute more to global peace.
• Collaboration in the defence industry and military trade, supporting each other in developing and sharing technologies.
• Exploring opportunities in logistics and military medicine, especially in areas like equipment maintenance and medical services during missions.

New Initiatives for Closer Ties

During the discussions, Vietnam invited Egyptian defence delegations to visit the country. It also expressed interest in greater participation in multilateral defence forums and events hosted by Egypt.

To support deeper defence relations, Vietnam proposed opening defence attaché offices in both countries. These offices would help manage and grow defence communication and collaboration daily.

General Giang also welcomed Egypt’s proposals to work together in military training and technical support. He suggested expanding cooperation in digital transformation, telecommunications, and military technology. In this regard, he requested support for Viettel, Vietnam’s Military Industry and Telecoms Group, to enter the Egyptian market and create new partnerships in science and innovation.

Agreements Signed to Mark a New Chapter

To mark their shared commitment, both sides signed a letter of intent to advance bilateral defence cooperation. This letter outlines their goals and will guide the next steps in their partnership.

On the same day, Major General Phạm Mạnh Thắng, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, visited Egypt’s Liaison Agency with International Organisations under the Ministry of Defence. He met with Brigadier General Ayman Shebl Habib, and both officials exchanged views on enhancing UN peacekeeping missions. They also signed a memorandum of understanding to support each other in improving peacekeeping capacity and contributing further to global peace efforts.

A Promising Future

The meeting ended on a positive note, with both ministers expressing strong confidence that defence relations between Vietnam and Egypt would soon make significant progress. They agreed that such ties would become a key part of their overall friendship and contribute meaningfully to peace, security, and development—not only for their countries but for the entire region and the world.