USS Ronald Reagan's Port Call in Vietnam: Strengthening U.S.-Vietnam Relations

 The USS Ronald Reagan arrived in the central Vietnamese city of Danang on Sunday, part of the U.S. 7th Fleet's mission to support a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The aircraft carrier was welcomed by its Vietnamese military counterparts in a brief ceremony, and more than 5,000 sailors aboard are eager to experience Vietnamese culture. The port call comes at a time of increasing U.S.-Vietnam relations, which are key to Washington if it wants to remain the dominant power in the region. It is the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, which includes guided-missile destroyers, cruisers and submarines. The carrier, along with its escort ships, is currently on a deployment in the Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Hanoi in April to upgrade diplomatic ties, and the U.S. Navy has made several port calls in the country since the end of the war. The USS Ronald Reagan is accompanied by two escort ships, the guided-missile cruisers USS Antietam and USS Robert Smalls. The visit follows the arrival of Indian naval ships in Danang last month and a port call by Japan's largest warship in Cam Ranh earlier this week. The aircraft carrier's visit is a reminder of the close trade links and shared concerns over China's growing strength in the region. China claims most of the resource-rich South China Sea despite competing claims from other Southeast Asian nations including Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia.

The USS Ronald Reagan's visit includes several cultural and community events, such as a U.S. Navy band concert, a visit to an orphanage, and sports matches. The carrier, along with its escort ships, is currently on a deployment in the Indo-Pacific region and has been based in Japan since 2015. The port call is seen as a way for Vietnam to balance against China's growing influence in the region, and is a show of support for a free and open Indo-Pacific region. It is also a sign of strengthening ties between the U.S. and Vietnam, as the two countries celebrate the 10th anniversary of their "comprehensive partnership".