Washington ( CNN ) -- The United States will ease some restrictions on defense sales to Vietnam , the State Department announced Thursday , following a meeting between Secretary of State John Kerry and his Vietnamese counterpart . While this change is limited to maritime security-related sales , it is a significant step forward for the U.S.-Vietnamese relationship . The United States previously maintained a full arms embargo on the country , which started during the Vietnam War nearly 40 years ago . During his meeting with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh , Kerry emphasized that any change to defense cooperation will be tied to Vietnam 's human rights record , according to State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki . `` Our security relationship remains under constant review , '' Psaki said in a news briefing . `` Clearly , there 's more work that needs to be done in areas like human rights , and that 's one thing that the secretary conveyed during the meeting . And this is , of course , a partial lifting . '' The Vietnamese have been pressing the United States to lift its arms embargo , particularly following aggressive acts by China in the disputed the South China Sea . Boats and brinkmanship up close in the South China Sea . Earlier this year , China towed a deep-sea oil rig into the contested waters , igniting tensions in the region . Asked whether Thursday 's announcement , which comes just one day after Kerry met with his Chinese counterpart , was related to the dispute , Psaki was vague . `` Well , in part , '' she said , `` in order to fully integrate Vietnam into maritime security initiatives that , you know , we have partnerships on throughout the region . '' The United States has condemned Chinese drilling in the South China Sea , and its efforts to intercede in the conflict have been met with ire in Beijing , where the sea as viewed as a vital national interest . A dangerous dance : China , Vietnam posture in the South China Sea .
U.S. will ease restrictions on defense sales related to maritime security . The deal is expected to be signed by the end of this year, according to a senior administration official. The policy shift follows aggressive Chinese drilling efforts in disputed seas .