Vietnam speaks out about Russia considering returning to Cam Ranh

Vietnam reaffirmed its policy of not allowing other countries to set up military bases, after Russian media reported that Moscow was considering returning to Cam Ranh port in Khanh Hoa.

Vietnam's submarine, ordered from Russia, arrived at Cam Ranh port two years ago. Photo: Nguyen Dong

"Vietnam's consistent stance is not to form a military alliance, not to ally with any country to oppose a third country, and not to allow any country to set up a military base in Vietnam. All the arguments I have stated remain unchanged," said Le Hai Binh, spokesman for the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in response to a question today about Russian media reporting that the country is considering returning to Vietnam's Cam Ranh port.

Cam Ranh Port was once leased by the Soviet Union (later Russia) as a military base for 24 years, from 1979 to 2002.

In 1965, after the Gulf of Tonkin incident, the Republic of Vietnam government allowed the US to use Cam Ranh as a military base. In 1972, the US handed over the base to the Saigon army.

Recently, naval ships from several countries have come to exchange with the Vietnamese navy at Cam Ranh. The US destroyer USS John S. McCain and the supply ship USS Frank Cable visited Cam Ranh for the first time in early October.

Spokesperson Le Hai Binh said that recently the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia as well as with other major partners in the world has had very strong developments.

"Vietnam always pursues a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, diversification and multilateralization of international relations and deep international integration, developing cooperation with all partners on the basis of mutual benefit, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world," Mr. Binh emphasized./.

According to VNE