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

Vietnam’s Defense Minister Phan Van Giang (R) and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (L) shake hands during a bilateral meeting at the Ministry of Defense headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Nov. 2, 2025. Lam Nguyen/AFP via Getty ImagesU.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.