You are on page 1of 2

Thayer Consultancy

ABN # 65 648 097 123

Background Brief: Vietnam-U.S. Defence Cooperation and Arms Sales Carlyle A. Thayer July 26, 2012

[client name deleted] 1. Was Nguyn Ch Vnh's recent visit to the U.S. related to Vietnam's purchase of weapons as well as Vietnam's request to cease the U.S ban on selling "lethal weapons" to them? ANSWER: I think there were four reasons for Senior Lt. General Vinhs visit to the United States. First, to follow up any understandings reached during Secretary of Defense Leon Panettas visit to Hanoi, particularly U.S. assistance to deal with the legacy of war such as Agent Orange and unexploded ordnance disposal. General Vinh may be seeking US military services and technology related to demining (see point four below). Second, to secure further commitments from the U.S. to assist Vietnam in contributing to United Nations peacekeeping. This would also involve appraising the U.S. Government of when and where Vietnam is likely to make a commitment. Third, to discuss peacekeeping with relevant UN agencies including its Department of Peacekeeping. Fourth, General Vinh met with members of Congress. He might have been feeling them out about ITAR [International Tfrafficking in Arms Regulations] restrictions on the sale of military services and weapons to Vietnam. Vietnams domestic needs to dispose of wartime ordnance and peacekeeping are probably the easiest issues to get Congress to remove some of the restrictions. In addition, action on ITAR may be viewed as bargaining the quid pro quo for Vietnam stepping up defense cooperation with the US military. 2. Do you know where the U.S. stands with Vietnam's negotiation to buy US weapons left behind in Vietnam after 1975? ANSWER: Vietnam considers all US equipment left in Vietnam after the war booty and its property. Vietnam seeks to acquire spare parts for Huey helicopters and armored personnel carriers. The ITAR restrictions were modified by the Bush Administration in April 2007 to permit the sale of military services and non-lethal equipment on a case by case basis. The sale of lethal equipment remains banned as well as the sale of crowd control

2 devices and night vision goggles to military forces that play a role in domestic security. Vietnam could apply for a license to purchase spares for captured US equipment. 3. Is the US making Vietnam's desire to purchase weapons conditional on improving human rights conditions in Vietnam? ANSWER: Definitely. This has been made clear repeatedly. Former US Ambassador Michael Michalak when he appeared on Vietnam TV on the 15 th anniversary of normalization (July 11, 2010). He was asked, why, since defense relations between Vietnam and the US have grown strongly, the arms embargo is still in effect? Ambassador Michalak replied, That is one of the areas where human rights questions do have an effect. We would very much like to expand our military to military relationship to include the sales of arms, but until we are more comfortable with the human rights situation in Vietnam, thats is not going to be possible. This policy position was reiterated by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta during his visit to Hanoi this year for discussions with his counterpart, Minster of National Defense, General Phung Quang Thanh. Earlier in the year the same message was delivered by Senators John McCain and Jospeh Lieberman during their visit to Vietnam. Secretary Clinton has spoken more broadly of wanting to take the bilateral relationship to the next level and even develop a strategic partnership. But she pointed out that unless Vietnams human rights record improves this will not be possible. 4. What does Vietnam require in exchange for allowing the US more access to Cam Ranh Bay? ANSWER: In 2009 Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung opened the commercial facilities at Cam Ranh Bay to all navies. The US was the first country to take up this offer. So far three US Military Sealift Command ships have undergone voyage repairs. These have been minor with the costs running between US $400,000 and $500,000. There would seem to be no restrictions on the number of repairs to these kind of ships. They are crewed by civilians and are logistics ships not warships. Vietnam will not grant the US Navy access to the military port at Cam Ranh Bay. This remains a restricted military area. The US, like all other countries, is permitted one naval visit per year. Vietnam last two Defence White Papers, the most recent was issued in late 2009, set out what I have called Vietnams policy of three nos no foreign bases in Vietnam, no military alliances and no use of one country against a third country. In sum, Vietnam will refuse to grant US Navy warships access to Cam Ranh Bay for the foreseeable future.

Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, Vietnam-U.S. Defence Cooperation and Arms Sales, Thayer Consultancy Background Brief, July 26, 2012.

You might also like