US defence chief urges close ties with Vietnam amid prolonged arms supply talks
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth voiced commitment to continuing several bilateral military projects, while also expressing Washington's support for a strong and independent Vietnam.
HANOI: The United States wants deeper military ties with Vietnam, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Sunday (Nov 2) at the start of a visit to Hanoi amid prolonged talks for the potential supply of military equipment to Washington's former foe.
Hegseth was expected to meet Vietnam's Communist Party chief To Lam, President Luong Cuong and Defence Minister Phan Van Giang, a Vietnamese official briefed on the visit said.
"Deeper (military) cooperation will benefit both of our countries," Hegseth, who arrived in the Vietnamese capital after meetings in Malaysia with Asian counterparts, said prior to meeting Giang.
The United States had already delivered three cutters to the Vietnamese coastguard and three T-6 trainer aircraft, from an order of 12, and intended to do more, he added.
In a statement, Vietnam's defence ministry said both governments agreed to continue promoting security cooperation, including areas such as the defence industry.
Hegseth's visit comes amid prolonged talks over Washington's potential supply of military equipment to its former foe, including transport planes and helicopters.
Talks on US arms supplies are expected to dominate the agenda, according to the official and another Vietnamese source briefed on the matter.
Both mentioned Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules military transport planes among the items to be discussed. A US official also confirmed C-130s would come up in the talks.
One of the Vietnamese sources said the supply of US helicopters could also be discussed, specifically Lockheed Martin S-92s and Boeing Chinooks.
The three sources declined to be named as the information was not public. They all said it was not clear whether any deal or announcement would be made on Sunday.
Boeing deferred questions on the matter to the Vietnamese and US governments.
Vietnam's government, the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin did not respond to requests for comment outside business hours.
PLANES, HELICOPTERS UNDER DISCUSSION
The Southeast Asian country, which relies heavily on Russian weapons, has been looking for years to diversify its arsenal. Talks with the United States, which lifted an arms embargo in 2016, gained momentum during the Biden administration but have not yet yielded any formal announcement.
Reuters reported last year on discussions for the sale of C-130 planes to Vietnam's defence ministry, and in July on a preliminary deal on two S-92 helicopters after years of talks on the matter with Vietnam's public security forces.
The possible purchase of two or three Chinook helicopters by Vietnam's police was also under discussion, said one of the sources briefed on the matter.
In December, a newspaper controlled by the police said a new airport under development near Hanoi would be suitable for Chinook CH-47D helicopters and other models.
The Chinook was the only aircraft mentioned in the report that is not currently in use by Vietnamese forces.
