Vietnam’s Navy Urged to Lead in Safeguarding Maritime Sovereignty

Khan Hoa, The Gulf Observer: President of the National Assembly of Vietnam Trần Thanh Mẫn has called on the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) to take the lead in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty over its seas and islands while accelerating the development of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation.

Mẫn made the remarks during a visit to the Vietnam People’s Navy and an inspection of Submarine Brigade 189 at Cam Ranh Military Base in Khánh Hòa Province on September 13.

During the working session, the National Assembly President conveyed greetings from Party and State leaders to officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People’s Navy, along with best wishes from General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President Tô Lâm, who also serves as Secretary of the Central Military Commission.

Mẫn commended the Vietnam People’s Navy and Submarine Brigade 189 for their achievements and contributions to national defence. He called for continued efforts to strengthen Party and political work, improve training and combat readiness, maintain strict discipline and enhance the living and working conditions of officers and soldiers.

He also emphasised the importance of strengthening defence diplomacy and cooperation between the Navy and local authorities and communities.

The National Assembly President urged naval personnel to thoroughly understand and implement the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws concerning military and national defence affairs, particularly the “Strategy for Protecting the Fatherland in the New Situation” and the “Strategy for Sustainable Development of Việt Nam’s Marine Economy to 2030, with a Vision to 2045.”

He instructed the Navy to proactively coordinate with other forces to closely monitor and assess developments at sea and provide timely advice and recommendations to the Party, State, Central Military Commission and Ministry of National Defence.

Such efforts, he said, are essential to effectively respond to potential contingencies and safeguard the country’s independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, including its seas and islands, from an early stage and from a distance, thereby maintaining a peaceful and stable maritime environment.

Mẫn expressed confidence that naval officers and soldiers would uphold the traditional spirit of “bravery in combat, intelligence and creativity, mastery of the sea, and determination to win,” while maintaining unity and self-reliance and successfully fulfilling their assigned missions.

He affirmed that the National Assembly and its Standing Committee would continue improving institutions, policies and laws to facilitate the development of a revolutionary, regular, elite and modern navy.

He also called on central agencies and local authorities to continue supporting and coordinating with the Vietnam People’s Navy, including Submarine Brigade 189, to enable the force to effectively perform its responsibilities.

Earlier, during his visit to Submarine Brigade 189, Mẫn received a briefing from Vice Admiral Trần Thanh Nghiêm, Commander of the Vietnam People’s Navy, on the Navy’s performance of its duties and the current situation concerning the country’s seas and islands.

In an entry in the brigade’s traditional book, Mẫn praised Submarine Brigade 189 for its achievements during more than 15 years of development, particularly in training, combat readiness and mastery of advanced submarine technologies, equipment and technical systems.

He expressed confidence that the brigade’s officers and soldiers would continue to uphold the values of “Uncle Hồ’s soldiers – Navy soldiers” and the proud tradition of a Hero of the People’s Armed Forces.

Mẫn urged the personnel to remain united, dynamic and innovative, achieve further accomplishments and uphold the brigade’s motto of “absolute loyalty, regular and disciplined, leading in combat readiness, and absolute safety,” thereby remaining worthy of the trust placed in them by the Party, State and people.