Exclusive: Courting Vietnam, U.S. prepares to ease arms embargo

Reuters ^ | Tue Sep 23, 2014 | LESLEY WROUGHTON AND ANDREA SHALAL

[sukhoi-30mki]

(Reuters) - Nearly 40 years after the United States helicoptered its last soldiers out of Vietnam in an ignominious retreat, Washington is moving closer to lifting an arms embargo on its former enemy, with initial sales likely to help Hanoi deal with growing naval challenges from China.

Senior U.S. officials with knowledge of the initiative said Washington wants to support Vietnam by strengthening its ability to monitor and defend its coastline, and said unarmed P-3 surveillance planes could be one of the first sales.

Such aircraft would also allow Vietnam to keep track of China's increasingly assertive activities in the South China Sea, a potential flash point because of interlocking claims from many countries to its islands and reefs.

Two senior Obama administration officials said discussions on easing the embargo are taking place in Washington and could result in a decision later this year.

"The mood is changing, and it is something we're looking at seriously," said one of the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity. "What we have found is a partner in which our interests are converging."

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A South Korean Air Force (ROKAF) P-3 Orion takes off from RAAF Pearce air base March 26, 2014, to assist with the international search effort trying to locate missing Malaysia Airways Flight MH370.

CREDIT: REUTERS/RICHARD WAINWRIGHT/POOL

[2ndDivisionVet]

John Kerry involved in loosening restrictions on Communist Vietnam? Just a coincidence, nothing to see here, move along. Oh, and Daniel Ortega, pick up the white courtesy phone.

[Regulator]

Sooo.....the NVA can buy a US military aircraft, but I can’t?

riiiiight...

[mj1234]

Johnnie the commie- worked with...

John Mclame!!- no fooling - liberalism is a disease