23-11-2024 (HANOI) In an extraordinary display of Vietnam’s diplomatic balancing act, defence companies from geopolitical adversaries including Iran, Israel, China, Russia, and the United States will exhibit their military hardware side by side at a December arms expo in Hanoi, the Vietnamese defence ministry announced on Tuesday.
The unprecedented gathering, scheduled for 19-22 December, has attracted nearly 200 companies from 27 nations, marking a significant expansion from the country’s inaugural 2022 defence fair. Notable additions include first-time participants from China and Iran, with Chinese state-owned defence giant Norinco Group confirmed to attend despite being under US sanctions.
In a remarkable diplomatic feat, the expo will host Israeli defence firms alongside Iranian military manufacturers, despite recent hostile exchanges between the two nations. American defence giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin will exhibit in the same venue as their Russian counterparts at the military airport on Hanoi’s outskirts.
The participation of Lockheed Martin gains particular significance amid reports of advanced negotiations with Vietnam for the supply of C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, highlighting the Southeast Asian nation’s efforts to diversify its military procurement beyond traditional Russian suppliers.
“This is bamboo diplomacy in action,” explains Dr Nguyen The Phuong, a Vietnamese security expert at Australia’s University of New South Wales. “Vietnam is demonstrating its ability to engage with any partner that serves its strategic interests, particularly in defence matters.”
The defence ministry has indicated that beyond procurement, the expo aims to facilitate technology transfer agreements and explore export opportunities for Vietnam’s emerging domestic defence industry. The previous expo in 2022 reportedly resulted in five contracts with foreign defence firms, though details remain undisclosed.
