17 former US Ambassadors ask Washington to resume support for mine action in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia

A group of 17 former US Ambassadors signed an open letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asking the US to soon resume support for mine action programs in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

In an open letter posted on the Legacies of War website, 17 diplomats who have served as US ambassadors to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia have called on US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to end the 90-day suspension of US foreign assistance programs, which has led to a halt in US-funded mine action activities abroad.

A review of U.S. foreign assistance programs is necessary, diplomats say, but a three-month pause risks severely setting back or even eliminating U.S.-funded global mine clearance, victim assistance, and mine risk education programs.

Former US Ambassadors also assessed that support for mine clearance and unexploded ordnance (UXO) activities demonstrates "US support for Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia - countries in the region that are of great strategic importance to the US".

"Demining operations not only save lives but also bring practical benefits by converting contaminated land into land that can be used for agricultural purposes or infrastructure construction, thereby boosting the economy," the former US Ambassadors emphasized.

The former US ambassadors also asserted that the above programs also benefit the US national security, because it reduces the risk of bad guys accessing explosives and using them for nefarious purposes, which can lead to violence or instability. If not cleared, landmines and unexploded ordnance can threaten the lives of US contractors and aid workers in the region.

Mine clearance in Quang Tri Vietnam.

In the letter, the former US Ambassadors believe that "the partnership between the US and Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia on important issues, including mine clearance, dioxin remediation, and accounting for missing in action, not only helps heal the wounds of the past but also promotes reconciliation and expands defense cooperation, economic growth, and people-to-people exchanges."

“Our continued investments in areas such as demining and other development initiatives will only strengthen these important relationships and promote even greater shared success in the future,” the former US Ambassadors said.

Earlier, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on January 27 called on the US to consider additional exemptions to its foreign aid cuts to "ensure the continued provision of vital humanitarian and development activities."

Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the US is one of the UN's largest contributors to voluntary humanitarian development aid and the agency is trying to understand the impact of Washington's aid suspension.

“We appreciate the generosity that the United States has shown. We want to work with, assess, listen to and address the concerns of the new U.S. administration, while ensuring that the most vulnerable are protected,” Dujarric told reporters.

A week after taking office, US President Donald Trump announced a temporary halt to foreign aid contributions to see if they fit his foreign policy agenda. The move threatens to cut billions of dollars in vital aid. The US is currently the world's largest foreign aid donor, disbursing $72 billion in foreign aid in fiscal year 2023.

On February 8, the Quang Tri Province Mine Action Center (QTMAC) said that about 1,000 mine clearance workers in Quang Tri belonging to three non-governmental organizations: MAG, NPA/RENEW, and Peace Trees (PTVN) were affected after US President Donald Trump ordered the suspension of most foreign aid. The activities of these three organizations all receive aid from the US Government.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/17-curated-academic-su-my-de-nghi-washington-noi-lai-ho-tro-khac-phuc-hau-qua-bom-min-tai-viet-nam-lao-camuchia-210114.html