Vietnam Arms Embargo to Be Fully Lifted, Obama Says in Hanoi – The New York Times

The president’s announcement that the United States was “fully lifting” the decades-long ban on lethal weapons sales came at a news conference in Hanoi.

HANOI, Vietnam — President Obama said at a news conference on Monday in the Vietnamese capital that the United States had agreed to lift completely its embargo on lethal weapons sales.

“The United States is fully lifting the ban on the sale of military equipment to Vietnam that has been in place for some 50 years,” Mr. Obama said.

Vietnam had long asked for the embargo to be revoked. The decision involved weighing Vietnam’s human rights record against the country’s need to defend itself against an increasing threat from China, its neighbor.

Gardiner Harris reported from Hanoi, and Austin Ramzy from Hong Kong.
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Sorgente: Vietnam Arms Embargo to Be Fully Lifted, Obama Says in Hanoi – The New York Times