U.S. Ambassador: American Arms Makers Could Aid Vietnam’s Military Development

U.S. weapons manufacturers could collaborate with Vietnamese counterparts to bolster Vietnam’s armed forces, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Mark Knapper said, Aniruddha Ghosal reported for the Associated Press (AP).

The US aims to ensure that Vietnam has the weapons it needs to be able to defend itself. I Photo: Poncahot Wikimedia Commons

“Our goal is to ensure that Vietnam has what it needs to defend its interests at sea, in the air, on the ground, and in cyberspace,” Knapper stated at an international arms expo in Hanoi.

The event, held at Gia Lam Airport and running through Sunday, features 250 exhibitors, including geopolitical rivals such as the U.S., China, Russia, and Ukraine, alongside Israel and Iran.

Prominent U.S. participants include Boeing and Textron Aviation, while China is represented by Norinco and Gaodu International Trade.

Iran’s Defense Ministry pavilion sits near booths from Israeli firms Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries. Vietnam, striving to enhance domestic arms production, seeks to reduce reliance on Russian weapon imports.