2LT International News

WASHINGTON D.C., Hanoi, Russian arms, US defense firms, military gear, helicopters, drones to Vietnam, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, Textron, IM Systems Group, US-ASEAN Business Council

WASHINGTON D.C.: In one more sign that Hanoi is reducing its reliance on Russian arms, Reuters reported that US defense firms have discussed supplying military gear, including helicopters and drones, to Vietnam.

Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, Textron and IM Systems Group met with senior Vietnamese government officials on the sidelines of the country’s first large-scale arms fair last week, according to the US-ASEAN Business Council, which organized the meetings.

While it may not lead to any sales, the meetings come as Hanoi hopes to find new suppliers, as the military capacities of Russia, for decades Vietnam’s main military supplier, are being reduced by its war in Ukraine and subsequent sanctions.

“This marks the beginning of a more open-minded Vietnam People’s Army to US weapons, and a willingness to engage deeper with the US in defense, as a whole,” said Nguyen The Phuong, military expert and researcher at the University of New South Wales, as quoted by Reuters.

Military agreements with the US face many potential hurdles, such as questions about human rights, concerns about the impact on Hanoi’s tense relations with China, high costs, and whether American systems can be used with Vietnam’s weapons.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper said that the US is ready to discuss the sales of military equipment to Vietnam.

The discussions highlight the efforts of the US to gain influence with Hanoi, nearly half a century after the end of the Vietnam War.