The information was released by the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department under the Ministry of National Defence on March 26.
During the visit, Major General Pham Manh Thang, Director of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department under the Ministry of National Defence, and Brigadier-General Carol Potvin, Deputy Director General for Continental Defence Policy under Canada’s Department of National Defence, signed the 2025-2026 cooperation agreement in the field of United Nations peacekeeping.
The signing of the annual cooperation document aims to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on UN peacekeeping cooperation, which both sides signed in 2023. It also demonstrates their commitment to enhancing Vietnam-Canada defence relations, as agreed upon during the Vietnam-Canada Defence Policy Dialogue held in Vietnam in February 2025.
 |
Major General Pham Manh Thang talks with representatives of Canadian authorities during the visit. (Photo courtesy of Vietnam Peacekeeping Department) |
The 2025-2026 cooperation list focuses on three key areas including exchange of delegations at all levels; training and capacity building; equipment assistance from Canada to improve Vietnam’s training capacity and enhance the professional capabilities of Vietnam People’s Army personnel in UN peacekeeping.
Over the years, the two sides have carried out several practical and effective cooperation activities, including exchange visits to enhance mutual understanding and coordination in peacekeeping. In May 2023, Canadian Ambassador for women, peace and security Jacquelines O'Neil, visited the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department to promote cooperation in increasing women's participation in UN peacekeeping.
In July 2024, a delegation from In July 2024, a delegation from Canada’s Military Training and Cooperation Directorate worked with the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department to discuss a three-year cooperation plan, further detailing the MoU signed between the two countries.
 |
Members of the delegation from the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department, led by Major General Pham Manh Thang, Director of the Department, work with the authorities from the Canadian Department of National Defence. (Photo courtesy of Vietnam Peacekeeping Department) |
Regarding training and capacity building, Canada has supported the training of officers from the Vietnam People’s Army through language courses (English and French) and specialised UN peacekeeping training programmes. These include civil-military coordination, military observer roles, international law on armed conflicts, and promoting women's participation and gender equality in the military.
In July 2024, the two sides successfully co-organised a Battlefield First Aid Training Course in Vietnam. Throughout 2024, Vietnam sent two delegations to Canada for French language training and 15 officers to participate in specialised UN peacekeeping training programmes as both instructors and trainees.
Looking ahead, both countries have committed to enhancing and expanding their successful cooperation to improve the quality of UN peacekeeping collaboration, including supporting the development of UN-accredited peacekeeping training courses; expanding officer training programs, language courses, and instructor training in Canada; strengthening cooperation on gender equality and women's participation in peacekeeping; organising international conferences to promote the role of women in UN peacekeeping forces.
 |
Members of the delegation of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department pose for a photo with representatives of Canada's Department of National Defence. (Photo courtesy of Vietnam Peacekeeping Department) |
The signing of the 2025-2026 cooperation agreemtn once again reaffirms the strong commitment of Vietnam and Canada to contributing to regional and global peace and stability, while also creating new opportunities for future cooperation.
