Key Russian arms buyer enters helicopter deal with American Lockheed Martin

Vietnam, historically one of Russia's key arms buyers, is signalling a major strategic shift by increasing defence cooperation with the United States. This week, Vietnam’s Public Security Ministry announced the purchase of helicopters from US defence contractor Lockheed Martin in a deal worth over $100 million, intended for Hanoi’s police force. Simultaneously, the country’s Defence Ministry is reportedly in talks with the same company to acquire C-130 military transport aircraft, used for tactical airlift operations and widely operated across 23 countries.

This development reflects a broader trend of growing US-Vietnam defence ties, which began accelerating after Washington lifted its arms embargo on Hanoi in 2016. Since then, Vietnam has acquired US coast guard vessels and training aircraft, with an article published by Newsweek pointing out how this underscores the rapid warming of relations between two former adversaries from the Vietnam War era. The acquisition of American military equipment not only marks a diversification of Vietnam’s arms sources but also indicates a shift in Hanoi’s strategic posture in a changing geopolitical landscape.

At the same time, Vietnam is reportedly preparing to bolster its air combat capabilities by purchasing 24 F-16 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin, a move first reported by US defence analysis site 19FortyFive. If finalized, this would mark another major shift away from Vietnam's traditional reliance on Russian aircraft, which currently dominate its air fleet.

Before Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Moscow was the dominant supplier of arms to Vietnam. Between 1995 and 2023, Russia accounted for about 81% of Vietnam’s arms imports, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The peak of this relationship came between 2011 and 2016, during a period of increased tensions between Vietnam and China over the South China Sea. According to information by the George Washington Institute, Russia's defence partnership with Vietnam was crucial at that time. However, as Russia and China drew closer in the 2010s, Vietnam began seeking alternatives, including a Comprehensive Partnership with the United States established in 2013.

Russia’s war on Ukraine and the subsequent imposition of wide-ranging Western sanctions have further weakened Moscow’s ability to maintain its global arms partnerships. Vietnam has been significantly affected by these sanctions, with bilateral trade between the two nations plummeting. In 2022, Vietnam's exports to Russia dropped by nearly 50% due to logistical, payment, and investment barriers caused by the sanctions. Despite efforts taken by both sides to the improvement of logistical arrangements, the data from 2023 indicate that trade has not bounced back, with the steep export decline persisting.

The growing military partnership also aligns with US economic interests. Former President Donald Trump recently announced a trade deal with Vietnam eliminating tariffs on US exports to the country. By opting for American military hardware, Vietnam not only enhances its defence posture but also contributes to balancing trade with the United States, which has long run a deficit with Vietnam.

By Nazrin Sadigova