US lifts embargo on arms sales to Vietnam announced President Obama

The United States on Monday fully lifted its 50 year old ban on weapons sales to Vietnam, announced President Barack Obama during a visit to Hanoi during a week long visit to Asia.

The embargo was partially lifted in 2014; now it will be lifted completely, the White House says.
“The United States is fully lifting the ban on the sale of military equipment to Vietnam that has been in place for some fifty years,” he said at a joint press conference alongside his Vietnamese counterpart President Tran Dai Quang.


"As with all our defense partners, sales will need to still meet strict requirements, including those related to human rights," "But this change will ensure that Vietnam has access to the equipment it needs to defend itself and removes a lingering vestige of the Cold War. It also underscores the commitment of the United States to a fully normalized relationship with Vietnam, including strong defense ties with Vietnam and this region for the long term."

Obama's visit to Vietnam is meant to strengthen the ties between both nations as regional anxiety grows over China's activities in the South China Sea,

Obama was keen to separate the decision to allow arms sales to the communist nation from shared concerns over Beijing’s claims to contested waters.

“The decision to lift the ban was not based on China… but on our desire to complete what has been a lengthy process moving towards normalization with Vietnam,” he said.

“At this stage, both sides have developed a level of trust and cooperation including our militaries,” the US leader added.

"The decision to lift the ban was not based on China or any other considerations. It was based on our desire to complete what has been a lengthy process of moving towards normalization with Vietnam," he said. Obama later added his visit to a former foe showed "hearts can change and peace is possible." 
 
Vietnam’s leader Quang welcomed the rollback of the Cold War-era ban on lethal weapons exports.

Obama’s three-day visit to Vietnam comes some 41 years after the North Vietnamese army and its Viet Cong allies marched into Saigon, humiliating the world’s preeminent superpower.