Vietnam and Russia sign nuclear energy deal

Vietnam and Russia have signed an agreement to enhance nuclear energy cooperation during Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s visit to Hanoi, as reported by Reuters.

The Southeast Asian nation is working to ramp up power production to support its growing industrial sector.

The agreement, between Russia’s Rosatom and Vietnam’s state-owned EVN, is part of a broader set of cooperation deals, though details remain undisclosed. Despite ongoing US sanctions on Rosatom’s subsidiaries, Vietnam continues to strengthen its partnership with Russia. Rosatom has criticized the sanctions as unlawful and an unfair competitive tactic.

In addition to the nuclear energy deal, Russia has agreed to transfer a maritime research vessel to Vietnam under a collaboration between Vietnam’s defence and science ministries.

However, financial challenges arising from Western sanctions on Russia may complicate future bilateral cooperation. Separately, Poland has approved funding of up to 60.2bn zlotys ($14.7bn) for its first nuclear power plant, awaiting EU approval.