Vietnam in talks with US over potential arms supply including F-16 fighters

 

An F-16 fighter aircraft. Photo c/o Associated Press.

Vietnam is reportedly in talks with US government officials in what could be the biggest arms deal between the two countries.

This is after the upgrading of ties between two former Cold war adversaries which are now strategic parners that included closer defense and economic ties.

An arms sales package with a strctured financing scheme were said to be part of discussions, including the potential sale of a squadron of F-16 single-engine multirole fighters that could mark the start of reduced reliance on Russian military hardware.

it remains to be seen if the offer will be for new-build F-16 Vipers, older F-16s from US Excess Defense Artciles, or a combination of both.

The deal is also expected to irk Vietnam's northern neighbor China, which it has ta rocky security relationship due to disputed territorial clains and a major reason for Vietnam's military build-up and improved ties with the US.

While the deal is still in its early stages of discussion, it was a topic that was raised in previous meetings between Vietnamese and American officials.

Vietnam is traditionally reliant on Soviet and Russian-made weapon systems, but Russia's war in Ukraine as well as the associated  political and trade sanctions has made it difficult for them to supply arms to other countries like Vietnam.

Vietnam is also in the process of replacing many of its Soviet-era weapon systems which have become obsolete compared to those of its neighbors, particularly China's People's Liberatiom Army.

[1] Reuters

[2] Aviacionline