Pentagon chief urges closer ties with Vietnam amid prolonged arms supply talks

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attends the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - United States Defence Ministers Hi-Tea as part of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, November 1, 2025. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain/Pool/File Photo

HANOI (Reuters) -The United States wants deeper military ties with Vietnam, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Sunday at the start of a visit to Hanoi, amid prolonged talks for the potential supply of military equipment to Washington's former foe.

The Southeast Asian nation, which relies heavily on Russian weapons, has been looking to diversify its arsenal for years. Talks with the United States, which lifted an arms embargo in 2016, gained momentum during the Biden administration but have not yet yielded any formal announcement on major items.