Aaron Mehta
WASHINGTON — As US President Barack Obama prepares to travel to in Vietnam, regional observers are tracking carefully what might happen if the president lifts an embargo on lethal weapon sales to the Pacific nation.
In 2014, the Obama administration announced a partial lift of the weapons ban, with a limited focus on maritime security assets. However, there is a belief that the administration may look to make a splash during the president’s visit to the region and remove the export ban as a whole.
Such a move has support from Defense Secretary Ash Carter, who said in an April 28 hearing in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee that he would back the end of the ban. It also has support in the form of SASC chairman Sen. John McCain, who has been vocal in his desire to see more equipment flow toward Vietnam.
But news that the Obama administration is considering ending the full export ban, first reported by Foreign Policy magazine, quickly raised concerns on Capitol Hill, with the office of Sen. Bob Corker indicating a need for review and consideration before jumping on board.
Corker’s restraint is notable for two reasons: one, as the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he has immense power over foreign weapon sales and two, he backed the 2014 decision that partially lifted the ban on weapon exports to Vietnam.
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