Arms race on display: Vietnam to host Iran and Israel 

Vietnam's defense ministry announced Tuesday that companies from Iran, Israel, China, Russia, and the United States will display their military technologies at a December arms expo in Hanoi. The event marks a rare convergence of geopolitical adversaries showcasing their weaponry side by side.

The expo, set for December 19-22, has already attracted nearly 200 companies from 27 countries. This year’s participants include firms from China and Iran, neither of which attended Vietnam’s inaugural international defense fair in 2022.

Communist-run Vietnam has long sought to diversify its military procurement to reduce its dependence on Russian supplies. The country has engaged in discussions with multiple nations, leveraging its strategy of maintaining good relations with major global powers.

While the full list of exhibitors and displayed weaponry has not been disclosed, prominent Israeli defense firms such as Elbit Systems and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems attended the previous expo in 2022.

* The Jerusalem Post contributed to this article.