U.S. to provide $12.5 million to support Vietnam in combating IUU finishing

On December 5, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, Marc E. Knapper announced a new $12.5 million foreign assistance package to Vietnam, during a meeting with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Vice Minister Phùng Đức Tiến at the Department of Fisheries Surveillance (DFIRES) Training Facility, Region 5 in Phu Quoc.  

The overall view of the working session

Made possible by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), the assistance package will support Vietnam in strengthening maritime law enforcement and combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The assistance package includes support for Vietnamese maritime law enforcement agencies, including DFIRES, Ministry of Public Security, and General Department of Vietnam Customs, via the donation of small boats, capacity building, and the development of realistic maritime law enforcement training facilities.  

During his visit to Phu Quoc, Ambassador Knapper also observed maritime boarding scenarios performed by Vietnamese fisheries enforcement and customs officers, including many women officers, as part of an ongoing series of capacity building activities supported by the U.S. Mission to Vietnam, through INL, to promote the meaningful participation of women in maritime law enforcement.

The United States supports a free and open Indo-Pacific and a strong, prosperous, independent, and resilient Vietnam. These new foreign assistance programs are just some of the many ways in which the United States and Vietnam are deepening cooperation on maritime law enforcement and maritime security capacity under the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and demonstrating how the two governments are working together to address shared regional and global challenges.