American Area Treaties

Abstract

North Vietnam’s victory over US-backed South Vietnam in 1975 led to a freeze in bilateral relations between USA and Vietnam for over a decade and a half. However, overlapping economic and security interests over a wide range of issues have led to strategic alliances between the two nations since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1995 (Manyin 2013). The possibility of such an establishment was first signaled by President Clinton’s visit to Saigon (now known as Ho Chi Minh City) in 1993 to end U.S. opposition to Vietnam’s receipt of international financial aid. President Clinton also ended economic sanctions against Vietnam in February 1994. The U.S. Senate’s support for harmonizing relations with Vietnam was soon once again demonstrated when, 2 months after the end of trade embargo, the U.S. Congress passed the Foreign Relations Authorization Act (Manyin 2013).