Major Russian Arms Buyer Chooses To Go American
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Vietnam will purchase helicopters from the United States for its police force, as Hanoi—historically reliant on Russian weaponry—deepens its partnership with Washington.
A Reuters report also stated that Vietnam's Defense Ministry is negotiating with Lockheed Martin over the purchase of C-130 military transport aircraft.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department referred Newsweek to the government of Vietnam regarding the Southeast Asian country's equipment procurement. The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.
Why It Matters
Vietnam and the United States—former adversaries during the Vietnam War, which ended in 1975—have been expanding their defense cooperation since Washington lifted its arms sales ban in 2016, after which Hanoi acquired U.S. coast guard vessels and training aircraft.
Prior to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia was a major weapons supplier to Vietnam. However, the Southeast Asian country is now diversifying its arms sources and enhancing domestic weapons production, creating opportunities for American defense firms.
Earlier in July, President Donald Trump announced a trade agreement with Vietnam, under which U.S. goods exported to the Vietnamese market will face zero tariffs. Choosing American defense equipment may also help narrow the U.S. trade deficit with Vietnam.
What To Know
Citing people with knowledge of the talks, Reuters reported on Thursday that Vietnam's Public Security Ministry has agreed to acquire two helicopters from Lockheed Martin as Vietnamese pilots have been training with the U.S. defense giant's S-92 helicopters.
According to Lockheed Martin, this type of helicopter is capable of performing a range of missions, including offshore energy transport, search and rescue, and airline operations. A total of 28 countries operate the S-92 helicopter for both civilian and military purposes.
An Alaska Air National Guard pilot is seen with a S-92 helicopter at Wiley Post–Will Rogers Memorial Airport in Utqiagvik, Alaska, on August 26, 2021.
An Alaska Air National Guard pilot is seen with a S-92 helicopter at Wiley Post–Will Rogers Memorial Airport in Utqiagvik, Alaska, on August 26, 2021.
U.S. Air National Guard/David Bedard
In addition to the helicopter deal worth over $100 million, the report stated that Vietnam's Defense Ministry is negotiating with Lockheed Martin over the purchase of C-130 military transport aircraft—designed for airlift missions and currently operated by 23 countries.
In response to a Newsweek request for comment, Lockheed Martin said questions regarding Vietnam's defense purchasing deliberations or decisions should be directed to the Vietnamese government.
The U.S.-based defense analysis website 19FortyFive reported in April—citing sources—that Vietnam is expected to buy 24 F-16 fighter jets, also manufactured by Lockheed Martin, to supplement its combat aircraft fleet, which is composed mainly of Russian jets.
What People Are Saying
The U.S. Embassy in Vietnam commented: "The United States supports a strong, prosperous, and independent Vietnam that contributes to regional and international security; engages in mutually beneficial and balanced trade relations; respects human rights and the rule of law; and grows its economic cooperation with America to strengthen energy security, increase U.S. prosperity, increase cooperation in technology, and reinforce our shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific."
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media platform Truth Social on July 2: "Vietnam will do something that they have never done before, give the United States of America TOTAL ACCESS to their Markets for Trade. In other words, they will 'OPEN THEIR MARKET TO THE UNITED STATES,' meaning that, we will be able to sell our product into Vietnam at ZERO Tariff."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether Vietnam will make additional purchases of military hardware, as it is involved in maritime disputes in the South China Sea with its neighbor, China.
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