Thayer Consultancy Background Brief:

ABN # 65 648 097 123

Whither Vietnam-U.S. Defence
Cooperation and the Role of
South Korea
March 31, 2023

It was reported in the news that President Biden and General Secretary Nguyen Phu
Trong spoke on the phone this week about enhancing ties. What does this signal for
you and do you think it could have any impact on the U.S. being a partner in Vietnam's
efforts to modernise its military?
ANSWER: The fact that President Biden spoke directly to the General Secretary of the
Vietnam Communist Party (VCP) Nguyen Phu Trong is significant because it
acknowledges his central role in Vietnam’s political system. The normal practice is for
the U.S. president to speak to his foreign counterpart, that is, the head of state or
government.
Both leaders invited each other to visit their country, and both leaders accepted.
These exchange visits will commemorate the tenth anniversary of the U.S.-Vietnam
Comprehensive Partnership (2013-2023). Such high-level visits invariably result in
solid deliverables.
In the meantime, according to the VCP’s newspaper Nhân Dân, “The two leaders will
assign relevant authorities of the two sides to discuss details for further promoting
ties.” It can be assumed that if agreement is reached at these discussions, the two
leaders will raise bilateral relations to a higher level strategic partnership.
In December 2022, Vietnam hosted a major international arms exposition. Senior
Vietnamese military officials spoke publicly about the need to diversify Vietnam’s
procurements. After the exhibition ended U.S. defence firms Lockheed Martin,
Boeing, Raytheon, and Textron held discussions with Vietnam’s defence officials about
commercial sales of military equipment to Vietnam.
It is significant that General Secretary Trong in his conversation with President Biden
raised defence-security cooperation in his list of areas the two sides could expand.
Defence and security are listed seventh of nine areas of cooperation contained in the
2013 Joint Statement between Presidents Barrack Obama and Truong Tan Sang
announcing their comprehensive partnership.
While President Biden and General Secretary General Trong were talking, fifty-two
U.S. business leaders were in Hanoi to discuss commercial and investment
opportunities, the largest U.S. delegation ever. Boeing representatives were in the
delegation.
 2

Q2. We request your assessment of South Korea’s role in arms sales in Southeast Asia.
Do you think South Korea will play a growing role in Vietnam's military modernisation
and in the region more broadly?
ANSWER: Over the last decade, South Korea has sold weapons and military equipment
to six Southeast Asian states – Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand
and Vietnam. The big ticket items include naval ships and submarines, trainer and
combat aircraft, artillery and surface-to-air and anti-ship missiles.
South Korea ranked fourth among the top ten states selling weapons and military
equipment to Vietnam in the period 2016-2022. South Korean sales totalled US $120
million. This involved the transfer of two Pohang-class corvettes in 2017 and 2018. No
arms sales have been recorded since.
South Korea is definitely among the states Vietnam is likely to turn to for its future
weapons procurements, possibly combat aircraft (T-50 Golden Eagle or the KF-21
Boramae).

Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, “Whither Vietnam-U.S. Defence Cooperation

and the Role of South Korea” Thayer Consultancy Background Brief, March 31, 2023.
All background briefs are posted on Scribd.com (search for Thayer). To remove
yourself from the mailing list type, UNSUBSCRIBE in the Subject heading and hit the
Reply key.

Thayer Consultancy provides political analysis of current regional security issues and
other research support to selected clients. Thayer Consultancy was officially
registered as a small business in Australia in 2002.