WASHINGTON, October 2 (RIA Novosti) – The United States is partially lifting the embargo on lethal weapon deliveries to Vietnam, US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said Thursday.
"The [US] State Department has taken steps to allow for the future transfer of maritime security-related defense articles to Vietnam," Psaki said at a press briefing, noting that US Secretary of State John Kerry informed Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh of the decision during their Thursday meeting.
The US arms embargo on weapon sales to Vietnam has been in force since the Vietnam War ended in 1975.
Recently, the United States has been increasingly concerned with China's military presence in the Asia-Pacific region, amid territorial disputes between China and US allies in East Asia.
The United States supports Vietnam in its territorial disputes with China over the South China Sea.
Meanwhile Russia remains Vietnam's leading military equipment supplier with contracts on the sale of Kilo-class submarines and Sukhoi fighter jets worth billions of dollars.
Last month, Russia's Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Viktor Evtukhov announced that Russia was planning to supply two Sukhoi Superjets to Vietnam. The two nations have also agreed on joint participation in several shipbuilding, engineering, and light industry projects.
