Vietnamese-American Nominated as Navy Secretary Amid Pentagon Shake-up and China Context

Former US President Donald Trump announced the nomination of Hùng Cao, a Vietnamese-American, as the next Secretary of the Navy. Trump praised Cao as a "true warrior" and stated that no one is better suited to ensure the Navy and Marine Corps remain the most capable and powerful forces the world has ever seen. Cao is currently serving as the Acting Secretary of the Navy. Cao is a retired U.S. Navy officer with over 30 years of service, including roles as a diver and explosive ordnance disposal officer. He retired with the rank of captain and has since made two unsuccessful bids for political office in Virginia. The nomination comes as the Pentagon undergoes a leadership overhaul. The previous Secretary of the Navy, John Phelan, was dismissed in April following months of disagreements with Pentagon leadership and disputes over shipbuilding programs. According to The New York Times, Phelan and Cao reportedly had a tense relationship, particularly concerning social and cultural issues. Cao fled Vietnam for the United States in 1975. In June 2026, he met with Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Phan Văn Giang, where expectations were expressed for his contributions to strengthening defense ties between Vietnam and the U.S. Cao himself has expressed a desire to build relationships with his ancestral homeland, stating, "I want to return to where my story began and strive to build important defense relationships between the United States and Vietnam, both now and in the future." Under Vietnam's one-party system, international cooperation in defense and security is pursued cautiously to maintain national stability and economic development. In particular, given China's assertive maritime presence in the South China Sea, defense cooperation with the U.S. holds strategic significance for Vietnam. Cao's nomination for Navy Secretary can be seen as a reaffirmation of Vietnam's importance in the U.S. Asia-Pacific strategy. Vietnam, while experiencing economic growth, also faces geopolitical risks, and strengthening ties with the U.S. is one of its options for managing these risks. Source: BBC Vietnamese