Rumors: Vietnam will lease Cam Ranh Bay to the United States? | The Diplomat

Credit photo: CAM RANH BAY, Vietnam (Aug. 18, 2011) Military Sealift Command dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Richard E. Byrd at anchor while undergoing a routine seven-day maintenance availability. Byrd is the first U.S. Navy ship to visit the port in more than 38 years. Byrd departed Cam Ranh Bay Aug. 23 to return to normal duties of supplying U.S. Navy ships at sea in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Anh Ho

Is there any meat to the rumors that Vietnam would lease Cam Ranh Bay to the United States?

By Carl Thayer

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.

• Vietnam has a long-standing defense policy of “three no’s” dating back to its first Defense White Paper in 1998
• 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
• This White Paper, entitled Vietnam Consolidating National Defense Safeguarding the Homeland stated: The national defense of Vietnam contributes to the policy of openness, diversification and multilateralization of external relations, without aligning with one country against another, without confrontation and offensive against any country…
• The following year, the United States and Vietnam signed a contract for the minor maintenance and repair of U.S Navy Sealift ships
• In sum, Vietnam is highly unlikely to lease 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.

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