US aims to curb China, eyes 'largest ever' military deal with Vietnam

The US is considering making one of the largest arms transfers to its former Cold War rival, Vietnam, in order to wean it off Russian weapons and better arm it against China, with whom it is embroiled in maritime boundary disputes in the South China Sea (SCS).

White House officials say that the two nations are still going through negotiations, although the agreement includes the US selling the recently upgraded F-16 fighter jets to Vietnam. Experts believe the contract may also have requisite missile systems like the AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) and AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range AAM if finalized.

Since an arms embargo was eased in 2016, according to media reports, US military supplies to Vietnam have been restricted to coast guard ships and trainer aircraft, while Russia has provided nearly 80% of the nation’s arsenal.

The Sukhoi Su-30 is the front-line fighter used by Vietnam. Its fleet also has guided-missile corvettes, submarines, fast attack corvettes, and guided missile frigates from the Soviet and Russian eras. This comprises around 80% of its arsenal.

According to the report, Washington wants to “shift a share” of Vietnam’s $US2 billion annual arms purchases “over the long term to weapons from the United States or its allies and partners, especially South Korea and India.” Vietnam has only purchased US weapons equipment worth $400 million in the last ten years.

Following its retirement from its fleet in July of this year, the Indian Navy gave a Khukri-class missile corvette to the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN). India was negotiating the sale of its BrahMos supersonic cruise missile to Hanoi earlier in that same month. At the time, it was merely a rumour, but today it can be argued that this was low-key organised with Washington.

The “cost,” which “Washington is considering structuring special financing terms for the pricey equipment that could help cash-strapped Hanoi steer away from its traditional reliance on lower-cost, Russian-made arms,” is a “major obstacle” behind the miniature representation of US-made weapons in Vietnam’s arsenal.