U.S. negotiates arms sales to Vietnam

The administration of President Joe Biden is negotiating an agreement on the transfer of arms to Vietnam by the United States.

Reuters reports, citing two people familiar with the deal.

According to the agency's sources, the arms package, which may be concluded within the next year, is planned to include American F-16 fighters.

The possible transfer of weapons will be the result of a recently renewed partnership between the United States and Vietnam, which is facing tensions with China in the South China Sea.

According to the article, the deal is still at an early stage, its exact terms have not yet been agreed upon, and it may not happen, but over the past month, the deal has been a key topic of Vietnam-US official talks in Hanoi, New York, and Washington.

"We have a very productive and promising security relationship with Vietnam, and we do see their interest in some of the U.S. systems, particularly those that can help them better control their maritime borders; transport aircraft, and some other platforms," said one U.S. official.

"The U.S. government is looking to be creative about what kind of lucrative financing options we could offer Vietnam to deliver something that could really be useful to them," he added.

According to another source, the United States is considering creating special financing terms for expensive equipment, which could help cash-strapped Vietnam move away from its traditional reliance on Russian-made weapons.

Author - Olena Madiak, 25/09/2023