US Seeks Closer Military Ties With Vietnam During Arms Supply Negotiations: Hegseth

Vietnam’s defense ministry said that Hanoi and Washington agreed to continue pushing for security cooperation.
US Seeks Closer Military Ties With Vietnam During Arms Supply Negotiations: Hegseth
(L–R) U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Vietnamese Defense Minister Phan Van Giang shake hands during a bilateral meeting at the Ministry of Defense headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Nov. 2, 2025. Lam Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images
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U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on Nov. 2 that the United States is seeking deeper military ties with Vietnam amid ongoing discussions for a possible supply of military equipment to the communist country.

The Pentagon chief made the remarks at the beginning of his visit to Hanoi following meetings with Asian counterparts in Malaysia. Vietnam, which has previously relied mostly on Russian weapons, has been aiming to diversify its arms supply for years. Negotiations with the United States that have lifted a 2016 arms embargo and picked up steam during the Biden administration have not resulted in any formal announcements on specific agreements.

Jacob Burg
Jacob Burg
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Jacob Burg reports on national politics, aerospace, and aviation for The Epoch Times. He previously covered sports, regional politics, and breaking news for the Sarasota Herald Tribune.