Will Vietnam Lease Cam Ranh Bay to the United States?
Is there any meat to the rumors that Vietnam would lease Cam Ranh Bay to the United States?
Carl Thayer
By Carl Thayer
May 06, 2020
Rumors are circulating that Vietnam is considering leasing Cam Ranh Bay or some of its islands in the South China Sea to the United States on a long-term basis as a supply base and/or stop over point as a counter to recent aggressiveness in the South China Sea.
Assessment of the Situation
Vietnam has a long-standing defense policy of “three no’s†dating back to its first Defense White Paper in 1998. This White Paper, entitled Vietnam Consolidating National Defense Safeguarding the Homeland stated:
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