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US National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien – Photo: REUTERS
“National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien left today to visit Vietnam and the Philippines, where he will meet with leaders of both countries to reaffirm the strength of bilateral relations and have a fair discussion.” National Security Agency, “announced the United States National Security Council (NSC) on Twitter on November 19 morning (VN time).
In Vietnam, Mr. O’Brien is expected to hold high-level meetings with various ministers. According to Bloomberg, the American adviser will also meet with Vietnamese security officials on November 21 and is expected to speak with students from the National University on November 22.
O’Brien is the second top official in US President Donald Trump’s administration to visit Vietnam in a month. Before that, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also went to Vietnam to discuss Washington’s strategy in the Indo-Pacific region.
According to Professor Carl Thayer, from the University of New South Wales (Australia), the two parties can make a joint statement on cooperation within the framework of the free and open Indo-Pacific concept, a foreign policy of the Trump administration aims to contain Chinese influence in the region. Commitments may include strengthening coastal patrol cooperation and selling equipment to help Vietnam defend maritime claims in the South China Sea.
Following his visit to Vietnam, O’Brien will depart for the Philippines at the end of November 22 and meet with the country’s security officials in the capital Manila.
The Trump administration has stated that its foreign policy priority is Asia-Pacific and competing with China.
Over the weekend, Trump sent O’Brien to the East Asia summit and he is expected to attend the APEC conference held online this week, according to Reuters News..
