The United States will partially lift its arms embargo on Vietnam

[AMDR]

BBC News - US to partially lift Vietnam arms embargo

The US is to partially lift its decades-old embargo on providing lethal military support to Vietnam, to help improve its maritime security.
The state department said it applied to weapons for maritime purposes only.
It followed talks between US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Vietnamese counterpart in Washington on Thursday.
Correspondents say it is aimed at countering China's actions around disputed islands in the South China Sea, but US officials have denied this.
The arms embargo was imposed on Vietnam in 1984. However, diplomatic ties between the US and Vietnam have been restored since 1995, 20 years after the Vietnam War ended.
Human rights
State department officials said Mr Kerry informed Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Min of the decision when they met for talks in Washington on Thursday.
He said that Washington was adjusting its current policy "in order to allow the transfer of defence equipment, including lethal defence equipment, for maritime security purposes only".
Spokeswoman Jen Psaki said sales of lethal maritime security capabilities would be on a case-by-case basis.
Vietnam is one of several nations currently engaged in territorial disputes with China over islands in the South China Sea. But Ms Psaki said the decision was not directed at China.
US officials said the decision followed some progress by Vietnam on human rights issues, but warned that a further easing of the embargo would require additional progress on this front.
Ties between the two countries have normalised over the past two decades, with bilateral trade now worth about $20bn a year.
The Vietnam War, which lasted from 1955 to 1975, killed an estimated three million Vietnamese and 58,000 US soldiers.

 

[Rechoice]

good move by US.

 

[TheMatador]

Time for colored revolution! Then China will attack.

 

[xesy]

Time for colored revolution! Then China will attack.

In your dream. VNese always complain about the govt. However, they are not angry enough to throw down the govt yet. Also as long as the govt keeps the army in check, who will do the revolution?

 

[TheMatador]

In your dream. VNese always complain about the govt. However, they are not angry enough to throw down the govt yet. Also as long as the govt keeps the army in check, who will do the revolution?

Dung! The leader of revolution.

 

[Battle of Bach Dang River]

Great news!
This is a big step forward in the relation of VN-US...

 

[mike2000]

this is a welcome development. The U.S should totally lift the sanctions/embargo on vietnam.To hell with human rights abuses/freedom of expression or whatever. Its in U.S interests to have Vietnam as an ally, so they should have lifted this sanctions long ago. I really dont understand why the U.S still maintains them tbh, it baffles me.
Anyway, hopefully it will soon be lifted so Vietnam can get closer to the U.S since it will serve it will serve Vietnam's interests more by doing so. Russia better start watching out for its weapons exports to Vietnam, they will soon reduce drastically/dry up, since we(west/U.S) still have the best quality weapons out there, Vietnams leaders know it, reason they have been pleading with the U.S to lift the sanctions ofr years now.....Interesting times awaits us these coming years.
Go Vietnam.

 

[Aepsilons]

I'd suggest Vietnam upgrade their tanks, purchase some Abrams. As for naval acquisition, buy some of the Hamiltaon OPVs, or some of the Perry class frigates. Also, upgrade the firearms. Replace those AK47s with M-16s please.

 

[ayachyan]

good news for American fellows. They have to find a better place to dispose of their grandfathers' ships. Selling those old tins to Vietnam absolutely is good idea. Viet seems to benefit a lot from the economical growth recently, they got enough money for those grandpa tins, because they can't build it by themselves.

 

[cnleio]

If done, (retired) P-3C & Oliver Hazard Perry class FFG could sell to Vietnam, but price not cheaper than Russian.

Navy force need ten billions $$$ to update each year, all need MONEY.

 

[ayachyan]

I'd suggest Vietnam upgrade their tanks, purchase some Abrams. As for naval acquisition, buy some of the Hamiltaon OPVs, or some of the Perry class frigates. Also, upgrade the firearms. Replace those AK47s with M-16s please.

it is not a good idea to replace Russia made with USA made as they have adopted the weapon system from Soviet for a very long time.
if they decide to buy some USA made weapon as alternative they have to change the equipment system overoll in order to adapt the new weapon. that may cost a lot, far more than the cost of purchasing.

 

[Aepsilons]

it is not a good idea to replace Russia made with USA made as they have adopted the weapon system from Soviet for a very long time.
if they decide to buy some USA made weapon as alternative they have to change the equipment system overoll in order to adapt the new weapon. that may cost a lot, far more than the cost of purchasing.

They can adapt, having a diversified weapons provider benefits them in the long term.

 

[Battle of Bach Dang River]

this is a welcome development. The U.S should totally lift the sanctions/embargo on vietnam.To hell with human rights abuses/freedom of expression or whatever. Its in U.S interests to have Vietnam as an ally, so they should have lifted this sanctions long ago. I really dont understand why the U.S still maintains them tbh, it baffles me.
Anyway, hopefully it will soon be lifted so Vietnam can get closer to the U.S since it will serve it will serve Vietnam's interests more by doing so. Russia better start watching out for its weapons exports to Vietnam, they will soon reduce drastically/dry up, since we(west/U.S) still have the best quality weapons out there, Vietnams leaders know it, reason they have been pleading with the U.S to lift the sanctions ofr years now.....Interesting times awaits us these coming years.
Go Vietnam.

Russia is still the top defence partner of Vietnam. I think VN-US relations will not affect the VN-Russia relations...

I'd suggest Vietnam upgrade their tanks, purchase some Abrams. As for naval acquisition, buy some of the Hamiltaon OPVs, or some of the Perry class frigates. Also, upgrade the firearms. Replace those AK47s with M-16s please.

In this time, US only allow selling arms to strengthen maritime security of Vietnam, including patrol aircrafts, ships, missiles, radar ...
P3 Orion is perhaps the first contract. P8 is in the future.
Vietnam has cooperated with Israel in the production Galil ace rifles to replace AK47 in Vietnam.

The Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) will begin to produce Galil assault rifles for the Vietnam People's Army (VPA), according to a report by state-run news agencies in Hanoi and by janes website. The production facility was under construction since 2011, at a built cost of more than $100 million.

The production unit will supply an unspecified number of the ACE assault rifles to "gradually replace" the AK-47s currently used by the VPA. The rifles are being manufactured at Factory Z111, which is based in the northern Thanh Hoa province and owned by the Ministry of Defence. This indicates the production of the rifles is a collaboration between IWI and the VPA.
Russian and Chinese companies also took part in the tender. In addition, armyrecognition website reveals that the VPA has already adopted a wide range of Israeli small arms including the Tavor, Negev LMG, Galil SAR rifle and Galil Sniper rifle.

http://www.israeldefense.com/?CategoryID=485&ArticleID=2784

 

[beijingwalker]

China is more than happy to support any moves that may bankrupt Vietnamese economy. I wonder how much foreign reserves can be spared by the Vietnamese government to buy foreign weapons, they are not cheap.

 

[beijingwalker]

Nowhere to be found in the Global Foreign Reserves rankings...