The article discusses how recent cuts to USAID by the Trump administration have brought cleanup efforts for dioxin-contaminated soil in Vietnam to a halt, alongside other humanitarian programs. This cessation not only poses health risks but also threatens the diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Vietnam, which have improved since normalization in the 1990s. As both nations prepare to commemorate milestones of their relationship, the cuts could undermine recent advances in cooperation against regional threats, particularly from China.
"It doesn't help at all," said Chuck Searcy, an American Vietnam War veteran who has dedicated his time to humanitarian programs in the country for the last three decades.
The interruptions to aid come as the U.S. and Vietnam prepare to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War and the 30th anniversary of the normalization of relations between Washington and Hanoi.
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