Hanoi. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed at least a dozen agreements Thursday with his Vietnamese counterpart To Lam and offered to supply fossil fuels, including natural gas, to Vietnam during a state visit that comes as Moscow seeks to strengthen ties in Asia to compensate. the growing international isolation due to its military actions in Ukraine.
Putin and Lam agreed to increase cooperation in education, science and technology, oil and gas exploration and renewable energy. They also agreed to work on a plan to open a nuclear science and technology center in Vietnam.
Of the 12 publicly announced deals, none were overtly about defense, but Lam said there were other deals that were not made public.
After the talks, Putin said that the two countries share an interest in “developing a reliable security architecture” in the Asia-Pacific region based on not using force and resolving disputes peacefully, without room for “political-military blocs.” closed.”
Lam added that both Russia and Vietnam seek to “cooperate more on defense and security to address non-traditional security challenges.”
The agreements between Russia and Vietnam were not as substantial as the pact that Putin signed with North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un on Wednesday, which promises mutual aid in the event of an invasion, explained Nigel Gould-Davies, senior researcher for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London and former British ambassador to Belarus.
Putin’s recent visits to China and now to North Korea and Vietnam are attempts to “break international isolation,” said Nguyen Khac Giang, an analyst at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.
Giang said Russia is important to Vietnam for two reasons: It is the largest supplier of military equipment to the Southeast Asian nation, and Russian oil exploration technologies help maintain Vietnam’s sovereignty claims in the disputed South China Sea.
Vietnam has also licensed Russian state oil company Zarubezhneft to develop an offshore block off its southeastern coast.
Regarding the South China Sea, Lam said both sides will “support and ensure safety, security, freedom of navigation and aviation” and the resolution of disputes peacefully and in accordance with international laws without the use of force. , according to official Vietnamese media.
Putin arrived in Hanoi on Thursday morning from North Korea after signing the strategic pact, which comes as both countries face increasing friction with the West and could mark the strongest connection between the two countries since end of the Cold War.
