Vietnam Buys 40 Russian Su-35 Fighters in Covert $8 Billion Weapons Pact—With Oil Payments to Dodge Sanctions
united24media.com
Vietnam has ramped up military acquisitions from Russia through covert financial channels, as highlighted in a New York Times investigation.

In mid-2025, military sources in Vietnam began circulating unconfirmed rumors that new multi-billion-dollar contracts with Russia were imminent.

Documents from Rostec identify Vietnam under the discreet label “Customer 704.” According to the sources and those documents, one deal could be worth ~$8 billion and include up to 40 new fighter jets.

  • Lembot_0005@lemy.lolEnglish
    141·
    14 hours ago

    Sounds strange.

    Is Russia even capable of providing 40 jets in current circumstances?

    Oil payments? Russia will import 8 billion worth of oil from Vietnam?

    Very-very strange. Bullshitty, I would say. But this world is strange and bullshitty, so who knows…

    • Dr. Moose@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      123·
      14 hours ago

      You could read the article and yes that’s the whole point that Vietnam will likely never receive the jets it’s just a way to take take Vietnamese tax payer’s money and use it to sponsor ruzis.

      Vietnam owes Russia 8B for the deal -> instead of paying which would void sanctions, they join with ruzis to help them launder oil and gas -> ruzis launder 8B oil/gas profits through Vietnam -> Vietnam maybe gets the jets in several decades if ruzia doesn’t collapse.