Bolstering Defense Ties, Vietnam Reportedly Agrees to Purchase American F-16s

Almost exactly 50 years after the evacuation of Saigon, American air power has returned to Vietnam. On April 22, 19FortyFive, a defense news outlet, reported that Vietnam had reached an agreement with the United States to purchase up to 24 F-16 fighter aircraft, while discussions to purchase the C-130, a transport aircraft, remain ongoing.

Once completed, the agreement will likely be the largest defense agreement ever signed between Washington and Hanoi, showcasing America’s growing role as a key security provider despite China’s efforts to bolster its regional influence.

Vietnam Turns Toward U.S. to Replace Russia in Defense Procurement Strategy

The announcement marks the culmination of long-running negotiations between Washington and Hanoi. Prior to finalizing the sale, the United States delivered five Beechcraft single engine turboprop aircraft — often used as a trainer for the F-16 — to Vietnam in November 2024.

The agreement also marks a dramatic transition in the region’s arms market. While Hanoi has gradually increased its purchase of American weapons since the removal of the arms embargo in 2016, Vietnam has typically purchased most of its fighter aircraft from Russia — though the Ukraine war has reportedly disrupted this relationship.

Moreover, the announcement marks the second major sale of the F-16 in the region in the past month, with the Department of Defense approving the sale of 20 F-16s and associated advanced avionics and weaponry to the Philippines.

U.S. Looks to Pull Vietnam Away From China

The announced sales come as both Washington and Beijing increasingly view Southeast Asia as a realm of strategic competition. While Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party has long broadcast its strong party-to-party ties with its Chinese counterpart, the country has become a haven for both American and Chinese manufacturing firms seeking lower-wage labor and a strong investment environment. This surge in investment has partially funded Hanoi’s growing military budget, which has increased since the beginning of the Ukraine war and now accounts for 2 percent of the country’s GDP — expanding the country’s interest in purchasing high-end weapons systems.

This growth has led both the United States and China to steadily increase their outreach to Hanoi. Confronted by rising Chinese aggression in the South China Sea, the USS Ronald Reagan conducted a port call at Da Nang in 2023, while Washington has expanded its sale of Coast Guard cutters to Vietnamese maritime law enforcement authorities. China has also increased its presence within the country, with Chinese leader Xi Jinping visiting Hanoi on April 14 and signing 40 bilateral agreements on trade following President Donald Trump’s April 2 announcement of a 46 percent tariff on Vietnamese exports.

Washington Should Strengthen Ties With Hanoi to Counter Beijing’s Outreach

Looking to isolate China within its own region, the United States should strengthen its relationship with Vietnam by using Hanoi’s growing economic ties with Washington as a basis to expand defense cooperation. Along with accelerating negotiations on a new trade deal with Hanoi, the Trump administration should ensure that Chinese firms cannot use Vietnam as a low-duty entry point into the American market — a key irritant raised in previous trade talks.

The Trump administration should work with Congress to ensure the prospective sale moves quickly through both the informal and formal congressional notification stages, avoiding any unnecessary delays. Similarly, Congress should facilitate the sale of air-to-air missiles to the Vietnamese Air Force if they are requested, which would enhance the fleet’s effectiveness against possible Chinese intrusions.

Jack Burnham is a research analyst in the China Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). For more analysis from Jack and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow Jack on X @JackBurnham802. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.