US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on July 28 afternoon. The visit is expected to greatly contribute to strengthening the friendly and trusted relationship between the citizens and militaries of the two countries.

Through visits to Vietnam by Defence Secretaries of the US and the UK, the defence ties between Vietnam and the two countries are expected to grow stronger in the time ahead.

While Austin’s appointment is not necessarily consequential for Biden’s China policy, it sends a clear signal within the broader context of the President-elect’s assembled foreign policy team.