Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Call with Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh of Vietnam

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke today with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh. Mr. Sullivan emphasized the United States' commitment to our comprehensive partnership with Vietnam, and discussed ways to deepen cooperation between the two countries in areas such as maritime security, the Mekong region, combatting climate change, and ending the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Sullivan underscored the Biden-Harris administration's commitment to ASEAN centrality and ASEAN's essential role in the Indo-Pacific architecture and pledged that the administration would continue to engage at a high-level with Vietnam and partners throughout the region. Mr. Sullivan and Deputy Prime Minster Minh also discussed the South China Sea, including the United States' support for the 2016 arbitral tribunal award. Additionally, Mr. Sullivan conveyed President Biden's concern over the dire humanitarian and human rights situation in Ethiopia's Tigray region and the urgent need for the UN Security Council to marshal support to address ongoing famine conditions.