The US will hand over five patrol boats to Vietnam.

A senior U.S. diplomatic official confirmed yesterday that Washington has handed over five fast patrol boats to Hanoi as part of a plan to support Vietnam's maritime forces.

Coast Guard vessel 8002 was launched in Da Nang on October 4th. Photo: Ngoc Truong.

"We have made significant efforts to support the development of Vietnam's coast guard," VOA News quoted Puneet Talwar, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, as he arrived in Hanoi for the 7th annual U.S.-Vietnam Political, Security, and Defense Dialogue. "We are honored by this work and hope our Vietnamese partners feel the same way. Yes, we have provided patrol vessels and will continue to do so to help enhance the capabilities of Vietnam's coast guard."

The $18 million in aid, along with five fast patrol boats, was first announced by US Secretary of State John Kerry during his visit to Vietnam in 2013.

Mr. Talwar also praised "the growing depth of the partnership between Vietnam and the United States. We discuss a wide range of issues, from maritime security to peacekeeping, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and humanitarian issues such as demining and searching for American soldiers missing in action after the Vietnam War. This demonstrates the strength of our bilateral relationship."

According to Mr. Talwar, during the annual dialogue, Vietnam and the United States also exchanged views on the situation in the South China Sea, reaffirming their shared interest in maintaining peace, stability, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the region.

In early October 2014, the United States announced a partial lifting of its arms embargo on Vietnam, which had been in place since the end of the Vietnam War. US State Department officials also stated that the decision was aimed at maritime security.

According to VnExpress.