Answering questions as to what he hoped to achieve in Vietnam, he said he would “just sit down and talk with” Vietnamese officials and seek “pragmatic steps” to move the two militaries’ relationship to “one of trust and collaboration”. It will be Mattis’ first visit to both Indonesia and Vietnam as US Defence Secretary.
“I’ll be doing a lot of listening,” he said, adding he had a “full agenda” with his counterparts in the two countries.
Mattis will meet Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu during his three-day stay before heading to Hanoi. Mattis did not reveal his Vietnam schedule.
