Vietnam Looks To U.S For Modern Weapons

In an effort to do away with Soviet-era weapons, Vietnam is looking to the United States to upgrade and modernize its military. Vietnamese Defense Minister Gen. Phuong Quang Thanh called on the U.S to lift a ban on lethal weapons sales to the country during a joint press conference with U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. Quang Thanh said that the removal of the ban would benefit both nations. “This would also help to fully mobilize the relationship between the two countries,” he said June 4 at K2000, Vietnam’s military headquarters. “Once the lethal weapons restrictions are lifted, Vietnam has the demand to buy some [items] from the United States, firstly to repair, to overhaul, the weapons that are left from the war. The U.S is looking to induct Vietnam as a key ally in the Asia-Pacific region. On a two day visit to Vietnam, Panetta said, “The purpose of my trip is to do whatever we can to strengthen the defense relationship between the United States and Vietnam.” Vietnam currently operates Su-30 aircraft, EC225 Super Puma and MiG 21 aircraft among others.