HANOI - US defence firms and top Vietnamese government officials have discussed possible supply deals for military gear, including helicopters and drones, a new sign Hanoi may reduce its reliance on Russian arms.
“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 defence as a whole,” said Mr Nguyen The Phuong, a military expert and researcher at the University of New South Wales. One 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.
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, US defence exports to Vietnam have been limited to coast guard ships and trainer aircraft, while Russia has supplied about 80 per cent of Vietnam’s arsenal.
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