HANOI : U.S. defence firms and top Vietnamese government officials have discussed supplying military gear, including helicopters and drones, two sources with knowledge of the talks told Reuters, a new sign the country may reduce its reliance on Russian arms.
The preliminary talks, which may not lead to any deals, come as the Southeast Asian nation seeks new suppliers and the Ukraine conflict strains the capabilities of Russia, for decades Vietnam's main military partner. The war, which Moscow calls a"special operation", has also led to strict sanctions against Russia.
The person who attended the meetings said the companies offered a range of military gear and had"promising" discussions about non-lethal equipment, including helicopters for internal security, plus drones, radars and other systems to keep watch on the air, the sea and space.A second person familiar with the matter said talks on drones and helicopters began before the arms fair and have involved more weapons.
The discussions show the United States' growing efforts to gain influence with Hanoi, nearly half a century after the end of the Vietnam War. Since an arms embargo was lifted in 2016, U.S. defence exports to Vietnam have been limited to coastguard ships and trainer aircraft, while Russia has supplied about 80 per cent of the country's arsenal.