The first update

Hearing Yanayev question about the arms sales to Vietnam and France, Le Duc Anh could only truthfully report to the general secretary of the Soviet Union, "You mean the deal between the Kassar-class destroyer and the Fighter-class fast missile patrol boat?" I think Yanayev was somewhat misunderstood, in fact, Vietnam was not ready to buy French ships. Le Duc Anh said very honestly, "After discussion, we do not believe that the Kassar-class destroyer meets the combat needs of the Vietnamese side, so after discussion at the top level of the Ministry of National Defense, it was decided that the Fighter-class fast missile patrol boat is in line with our military purchase." ”

It's not that Le Duc Anh is not impressed by the Casal-class destroyers, except for the Biejia-class frigates, which have reached 1,000 tons, the other ships in the Vietnamese Navy generally do not exceed 600 tons. And now the Chinese side is stepping up the deployment of the center cruiser, which means that the Vietnamese navy will face a more passive situation in the next South China Sea dispute. Thinking that he finally looked forward to two Kassar-class destroyers with a displacement of 4,000 tons, but was directly disturbed by the Soviet Union, Li Deying's unwillingness can be imagined.

It is just that when facing the powerful general secretary of the Soviet Union, he must make a humble gesture of respect no matter what, and he does not want the Soviet Union to directly abandon Vietnam and finance Cambodia at that time, which is tantamount to setting up a powerful enemy against himself. What's more, now the Vietnamese Navy is still supported by Soviet weapons, and there is no benefit in turning the other cheek with the Soviet Union at this time.

"Casal-class? The USSR was willing to sell Kashin-class destroyers to Vietnam, and for the same tonnage, Kashin-class destroyers were sold cheaper. Of course, the Kashin-class destroyers are not at the same level as the Kasar-class destroyers, but now the Vietnamese Navy, which is thinking about how fast and easy it is, can only have the strength to confront China by spending less money to buy more large ships.

However, Chairman Li Deying hesitated, the Cassin-class destroyer was a ship of the Soviet Red Navy that was close to retirement, and naturally it could not be compared with the Kassar-class destroyer that had not yet been built, not to mention that it was even more vulnerable in front of the Glorious-class cruisers. However, no matter how much Li Deying thinks about it, he can't stand Yanayev's incessant advocacy and the consideration of the actual situation. After all, the leader of every small country has a dream of a sea of stars. What's more, the service life of the Vietnamese Navy's equipment is too long, such as the American-made 1-150 class tank landing ships, which are already a product of the early forties, are generally aging, and the spare parts are insufficient, which affects the overall combat capability of the Vietnamese Navy.

The Cassin-class Agile has been decommissioned and happens to be one of the ships for military sales, and the Rapid was sunk in an accident off the coast of Sevastopol, so it is better to sell it to Vietnamese ships now.

"We have built improved ships for India, from the first in 1980 to the fifth in 1988. And all modifications were equipped with helicopter hangars, and in 1988 we also sold one ship to Poland. "Yanayev is desperately boasting about the sales of the Kashin-class at this time, just to let Vietnam understand that our ships are worth buying.

"Of course, the Vietnamese Navy is now only an offshore defense force with light equipment as the main body, but don't forget that the country around you has many island disputes with you in the South China Sea. Even if the combat performance of the Cassin-class destroyers is not as good as the latest Casal-class destroyers in France, but the cheap cost allows Vietnam to build a powerful naval force in the shortest possible time, think about the strong psychological pressure that you have three Cassin-class destroyers to your opponents. And we can also replace the 2 twin SA-N-1 Goa ship-to-air missile launchers with more powerful SS-N-25 Uranus anti-ship missile installations, so that the Cassin-class destroyers have more powerful anti-sea and air defense combat capabilities, what do you think? ”

Three or four Cassin-class destroyers can upset the balance of underwater power in Southeast Asia, deter small countries in the South China Sea, and provoke an arms race at sea in the South China Sea. So Yanayev continued to instill ecstasy soup in Li Deying, convincing him that according to the reality of the situation, it was better to buy a Kassar-level than a Kassin-level. Moreover, the Cassin class is cheaper than the Casal class proposed by the French.

"Chairman Li Deying, I don't think you are people who can't understand things, when you buy a Kasar-class, you can already buy an upgraded version of the Kassin-class, and we also provide a variety of upgrade plans for ship weapons, which you can choose from."

Yanayev has painted a bright picture for Vietnam, convincing him that with his Kasin-class destroyers, Vietnam can change its armaments with neighboring countries in one fell swoop and pose a major threat to the countries surrounding the South China Sea.

After thinking about it, such a question was still left to the Ministry of Defense for discussion before making a decision, so Li Deying politely refused, "The Ministry of Defense needs to think about it again......"

"Tell me, Chairman Lai Duc Anh." Yanayev was very dissatisfied with Le Duc Anh's hesitation, as long as someone was blowing the wind on the pillow, Vietnam would definitely immediately change the object of arms sales, and then it would become a feud between France and the Soviet Union, which was the last thing Yanayev wanted to see, so he directly interrupted Le Duc Ying's words, "What kind of ships a country buys is up to you or the Ministry of National Defense?" If a country's leader does not have the courage to make decisions, I think he will not be able to govern a country well. ”

The implication is that the USSR asked you to buy it, do you dare not buy it?

"But ......" Vietnamese prime minister began to speak a little unfavorably, obviously suppressed by the attitude of the Soviet leader, Le Duc Anh knew that Yanayev could not only provoke relations between Vietnam and Cambodia, but also with Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines, and in the end, Vietnam would fall into an ambush on all sides. Then the Chinese side took advantage of the fire to rob and intervene, and it was not possible to stab Vietnam unscathed.

"There is nothing but, I hope that the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense will be able to give an answer in the next few days, whether it is to send a delegation to the Soviet Union to visit, or whether the Soviet delegation will come directly to Vietnam for negotiations, we just need to get an important reply in the next few days." Yanayev didn't say whether it was a positive reply or a negative reply, which is definitely a condition that Li Deying cannot refuse.

Throughout the negotiations, Yanayev put pressure on Le Duc Anh with an imposing attitude, and Vietnam was like a chicken rib to the Soviet Union, and there was no more strategic advantage than to continue to squeeze surplus value. After all, the Soviet Union has long since lost the vigor of the Brezhnev period, and Cam Ranh Bay, which is far away in Southeast Asia, can no longer play any role. One might ask whether the Soviet Union did not intend to continue to complete the records of the Four Seas Fleet in the world.

However, the reduced naval power could only be used to defend the Soviet waters and coastal areas, but the silent submarines were developing rapidly.

"I will give Chairman Yanayev an answer in the next few days." Le Duc Anh said helplessly, in the face of Yanayev's strength, Vietnam naturally retreated a few points, and now the only way he can think of not offending the Soviet Union and France is to buy the Soviet Union's Kasin-class destroyers, and then purchase France's Fighter-class missile patrol boats.

"I hope to receive a reply from the Vietnamese side as soon as possible, and I think it will be a new chapter in the friendship and cooperation between the two countries."

Seeing that Li Deying had succumbed, Yanayev shook hands with him with a smile, but he could sense the helplessness that flashed in his eyes. However, since ancient times, small countries have no real say in front of big countries, so Yanayev was able to give full play to the influence of the Soviet Union's huge national power in the confrontation of the international situation.

Defeat never belonged to the Soviets.

The Soviets won the first round against France, and Yanayev was looking forward to seeing Gaul's frustrated face in the future.

The real battle is only beginning now. Yanayev thought. He had never been afraid of France, but he just hoped that he could use this Vietnam arms sales game to let Chirac know who his real opponent was.

After Yanayev hit France with a mallet, the Soviet Union would give it a big turnip as a comfort, as usual. In this way, the Soviet Union and France will be in a sense teammates who advance and retreat together. (To be continued.) )