US partially lifts 40-year ban on Vietnam arms sales

The United States is to partially lift a four-decade-old arms embargo against its former foe Vietnam, the State Department said today, after Secretary of State John Kerry met his counterpart Pham Binh Min.

"The secretary informed deputy prime minister and foreign minister Minh that the State Department has taken steps to allow for the future transfer of maritime security-related defense articles to Vietnam," spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.