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Vietnam will purchase helicopters from the United States for its police force, marking a shift as Hanoi—historically reliant on Russian weaponry—deepens its partnership with Washington. Reuters reported that Vietnam’s Defense Ministry is also negotiating to buy C-130 military transport aircraft from Lockheed Martin.
The U.S. State Department referred Newsweek to Vietnam regarding the Southeast Asian country’s equipment procurement, noting that the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.
### Why It Matters
Vietnam and the United States—once adversaries during the Vietnam War (1955–1975)—have been expanding their defense cooperation since Washington lifted its arms sales ban in 2016. Hanoi has since acquired U.S. coast guard vessels and training aircraft. Prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia was a major weapons supplier to Vietnam but is now diversifying its sources and enhancing domestic production, creating opportunities for American defense firms.
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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
Reuters reported that Vietnam’s Public Security Ministry has agreed to acquire two helicopters from Lockheed Martin, as Vietnamese pilots have been training with the company’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.
In addition, 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.
### What People Are Saying
The U.S. Embassy in Vietnam stated: “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.”
### 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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What does the shift in Vietnam’s arms procurement indicate about its defense partnerships?
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