US to provide Vietnam 40 million USD to enhance maritime capabilities
President Barrack Obama
(VOVworld) – The US government will provide Vietnam 40 million USD in 2 years to help Vietnam increase its maritime capabilities. This is part of Washington’s plan to help Southeast Asian countries improve maritime security amid increasing complexities in the East Sea. Washington’s commitments to support Vietnam was reflected in its partly lift of its arms export ban on Vietnam which allows the transfer of defensive weapons “related to maritime security”, as well as in expanding bilateral training activities and exercises in disaster relief and humanitarian issues.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the White House said the US government pledges to spend 119 million USD in the 2015 fiscal year and another 140 million in the following year to help Southeast Asian countries improve their maritime capabilities.
The Philippines will get the most support with 79 million USD to bolster maritime security in 2015, the statement said, adding that the United States will "grant" the Philippines a US Coast Guard cutter.
Of this aid package, 21 million USD will go to Indonesia, and 2.5 million USD is for Malaysia.