RFI wrote President Barack Obama affirmed that lifting the embargo on the sale of lethal weapons to Vietnam has finalized the relation normalization process with Vietnam. Meanwhile, the French AFP said the move is highly symbolic of a shift in bilateral relations that have seen a surge in Vietnam-US trade and cultural exchanges.

The Washington Post runs a story titled “In historic move, US lifts embargo on arms sales to Vietnam”. The lifting of a longstanding US embargo on lethal arms sales to Vietnam is a decision that illustrates the warming bilateral ties between the two countries. The newspaper quoted President Obama as saying that his decision reflected a maturing relationship and deepening cooperation on security and economic investment after the end of the Vietnam War.

The Wall Street Journal wrote “The US will lift a decades-old ban on sales of lethal arms to Vietnam, a major policy shift that President Barack Obama said would end a “lingering vestige of the Cold War” and pave the way for more-normal ties between the two nations.”

Reuters said the complete end to US’s arms embargo on Vietnam on Monday is a historic step that opens a new chapter in bilateral ties. ANSA  of Italy also calls the US’ decision a historic event.