Eligibility of Vietnam To Receive Defense Articles and Defense Services Under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act

President Bush determined that providing defense articles and services to Vietnam would strengthen U.S. security and promote world peace, authorizing the Secretary of State to report this finding to Congress and publish it in the Federal Register. This determination lifted statutory restrictions on arms transfers to Vietnam.

Federal Register Open PDF 72 FR 1903

Impact dates

Dec 29, 2006
Report finding to Congress and publish in Federal Register

Key directives

Find that furnishing defense articles and defense services to Vietnam will strengthen U.S. security and promote world peace
Authorize and direct Secretary of State to report finding to Congress
Authorize and direct Secretary of State to publish finding in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Secretary of State · Department of State

Timeline

Immediate

Determination takes effect upon signing
Secretary of State authorized to report to Congress and publish in Federal Register

Near term (90d)

Congressional notification
Federal Register publication

Long term

Potential defense trade and security cooperation with Vietnam

Risks & tensions

Human rights concerns regarding arms transfers to authoritarian government
Regional balance implications with China and other Southeast Asian nations
Domestic political sensitivity given Vietnam War history