U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel speaks at a news conference, as part of his visit to Vietnam, ahead of a visit by U.S. President Barack Obama later this month, in Hanoi May 10, 2016. REUTERS/Kham
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama is considering whether to lift a three-decade-old arms embargo on Vietnam, U.S. officials say, as he weighs calls to forge closer military ties with Hanoi against concerns over its poor human rights record.
The debate within the U.S. administration is coming to a head amid preparations for Obama's trip to Vietnam this month to bolster ties between Washington and Hanoi, former wartime enemies who are increasingly partners against China's growing territorial assertiveness in the South China Sea.
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