Global Rivals Iran, Israel, US, China To Showcase Military Hardware At Vietnam’s Arms Expo

Vietnam will host an international arms expo in Hanoi from December 19-22, bringing together defense companies from 27 nations, including geopolitical adversaries like Iran, Israel, China, Russia, and the United States. The event underscores Vietnam’s strategy of diversifying its military suppliers and maintaining balanced diplomatic ties with global powers.

The Vietnamese defense ministry announced that nearly 200 companies have confirmed participation, including firms from Iran and China, marking their debut at the expo. This will also be the first time Iran, under extensive Western sanctions, exhibits its military equipment alongside US and Israeli firms, despite ongoing tensions between these nations.

Notable participants include US defense giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin, which is reportedly in advanced talks with Vietnam to supply C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft. On the other hand, China’s state-owned Norinco Group, currently sanctioned by the US, will also attend, showcasing Vietnam’s commitment to hosting a diverse range of exhibitors.

The arms expo reflects Vietnam’s “bamboo diplomacy,” a term symbolizing its flexible foreign policy. According to Nguyen The Phuong, a security expert at the University of New South Wales, “Vietnam will engage with any partner it deems suitable, particularly in defense.”

Vietnam, historically reliant on Russia for military supplies, has been actively diversifying its defense partnerships to boost its domestic industry and reduce dependency. The defense ministry highlighted its intent to leverage the expo for technology transfers and to explore export opportunities for its growing defense sector.

The event will be held at a military airport on the outskirts of Hanoi, with defense firms likely to display both operational and conceptual models. The ministry did not provide details on specific arms to be exhibited or the full list of participants.

In the previous edition of the expo in 2022, Israeli firms like Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Elbit Systems were among the participants, and Vietnam signed five contracts with foreign defense companies, though the agreements remain undisclosed. This year’s expo is expected to build on such collaborations, fostering greater international defense cooperation.