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Vietnam signs energy and defense accords with Putin

9/10/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Vietnam President To Lam met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, signing energy and defence accords on Sept 9.
Zarubezhneft and Novatek secured offshore production-sharing and LNG export deals with Vietnam for next year.
Hanoi targets 10% annual growth and stresses the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear plant for energy security.
Lam will meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris and attend the Space Summit, a move analysts call “bamboo diplomacy.”

History

Historical Context

In November 1978 Vietnam and the Soviet Union signed a Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, raising Soviet military aid to roughly $600 million that year and cementing a Cold-War alliance. After the USSR’s collapse, ties waned but revived in the 2000s, leading President To Lam’s September 9, 2024 meeting with President Vladimir Putin to renew energy and defence cooperation.

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Story summary

Vietnam President To Lam met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, signing energy and defence accords on Sept 9.
Zarubezhneft and Novatek secured offshore production-sharing and LNG export deals with Vietnam for next year.
Hanoi targets 10% annual growth and stresses the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear plant for energy security.
Lam will meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris and attend the Space Summit, a move analysts call “bamboo diplomacy.”

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