Maritime security

US lifts ban on maritime lethal weapon sales to Vietnam

The White House said in a statement released on Nov 17 that it had lifted “the ban on sales of maritime-related lethal capabilities to allow development of Vietnam’s maritime capacity and encourage interoperability with other regional forces.”
Washington is also expanding its maritime assistance to Hanoi by offering US$19.6 million worth of support in fiscal year 2015 to help develop the country’s maritime capabilities, according to the announcement.
The figure is projected to reach $20.5 million in fiscal 2016, subject to appropriation, the White House said.
“We are helping Vietnam bolster its maritime Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and command and control within Vietnam’s maritime agencies,” the statement reads.