Mavi made it clear to the Vietnamese delegation:
"If you don't buy these second-generation fighter jets at a high price, Russia will sell them to your neighboring countries instead. If a conflict arises and your enemy flies MiG fighters, crushing your forces, don't expect Russia to step in."
There was another unspoken truth—Russia made no guarantees about the quality of these second-generation fighter jets. If the engine failed mid-flight or the landing gear malfunctioned, that would be Vietnam's problem, not Russia's. It would all depend on their luck.
Military negotiations rarely reached the level Mavi had taken them to—his approach was unprecedented. But he couldn't be blamed for it. If anyone was to blame, it was Vietnam itself, a country known for repaying kindness with betrayal and valuing profit above all else.
"Hmm… Mr. Mavi, has your military already signed contracts with Laos, Cambodia, or Thailand for these aircraft?" the Vietnamese Air Force representative asked anxiously.
The information Mavi had just provided was crucial to Vietnam—almost as important as the purchase of the military equipment itself.
"I'm not at liberty to disclose that," Mavi replied indifferently. "But ever since we resolved our dispute with Turkey, many countries have expressed interest in acquiring our Su-series and MiG fighter jets."
Whether selling fighter jets or nuclear weapons, it was all about salesmanship—a psychological game.
Hearing Mavi's response, the Vietnamese Air Force representative exchanged a serious look with Prime Minister Nguyen Phi Anh. If Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand secured Russian fighter jets before Vietnam did, it would pose a major threat to their national security.
"Mr. Mavi, besides fighter jets, I'd like to ask about your country's T-90S tanks. Are they available for sale? And if so, how much per unit? If conditions permit, the Vietnamese Army might consider purchasing some," the Army representative inquired.
Vietnam's military operated hundreds of tanks, but most were outdated relics. Compared to the T-90 tanks they had seen at a Russian army base earlier, their own armored fleet was severely lacking.
However, before the Army representative could get too hopeful, Mavi doused his enthusiasm with cold water.
"The T-90S main battle tank is not available for sale," Mavi stated firmly. "But if you're interested in T-55 tanks or IS heavy tanks, we can discuss that."
The T-55 and IS heavy tanks Mavi mentioned were relics from World War II, long past their prime. The Russian military had hundreds of them sitting in storage, awaiting disposal. If Vietnam was interested, Mavi was more than happy to offload them—at a steep price, of course.
The Vietnamese Army representative pondered for a moment before asking, "Mr. Mavi, how much are you selling the T-55 and IS heavy tanks for? If the price is reasonable, we might purchase 40 to 50 units immediately."
Vietnam's government was desperate to bolster its military capabilities and had granted its armed forces significant decision-making power. If they agreed on the deal, they could authorize payment on the spot.
But to Mavi, 40 or 50 tanks were barely worth his time.
"Forty or fifty tanks?" Mavi raised an eyebrow. "Sorry, but we don't do such small deals. The minimum purchase is 100 tanks."
The Vietnamese Army representative fell silent. In their view, 50 tanks were already a considerable number. But to the Russians, it was nothing—hardly worth selling.
Yet, Mavi's leverage was undeniable. Russia had the upper hand, and Vietnam had no choice but to comply.
Reluctantly, the Army representative asked, "Alright, then… How much for 100 T-55 tanks?"
"$80 million. No negotiations," Mavi replied coolly, pricing the T-55 tanks even higher than the T-90 tanks.
Surprisingly, after some deliberation, the Vietnamese delegation still agreed to pay. Their reasoning was simple—if they didn't buy now, Russia might sell the tanks to Vietnam's neighbors instead. And that was a risk they couldn't afford.
"Alright, Mr. Mavi, the Vietnamese Army will purchase 100 T-55 tanks from your country. When can they be delivered to Vietnam?" the Army representative asked seriously.
Vietnam had allocated a $1 billion budget for military procurement, dividing it roughly into thirds for the navy, army, and air force. That meant the army had around $330 million to spend.
"Oh, I almost forgot to mention," Mavi added with a smirk. "The $80 million doesn't include transportation costs. And Russia won't be handling the shipping—you'll need to arrange that yourselves."
Transporting 100 tanks by sea was a risky endeavor. If a cargo ship sank, over 4,000 tons of equipment would be lost, and recovering it would be nearly impossible. Russia had no intention of assuming that risk. Even with insurance, potential losses could reach 30%.
The Vietnamese Army representative nodded in understanding. As long as Russia was willing to sell, they would find a way to transport the equipment, no matter the difficulty or cost.
Over the next three days, Mavi expertly leveraged psychological pressure, using Vietnam's fear of its neighbors' military advancements as a bargaining tool.
By the end of negotiations, Vietnam had committed to purchasing:
- 220 T-55 tanks for $176 million
- 6 MiG-21 fighter jets for $216 million
In total, Mavi successfully drained $392 million from Vietnam's military budget.
And he wasn't done yet. With $600 million still left unspent, he intended to keep pushing, ensuring Vietnam exhausted its entire budget before they had a chance to seek alternatives elsewhere.
---
### A Foolish Mistake Repeated
In a previous timeline, Vietnam had made the same foolish decision—spending $1 billion on outdated Russian military equipment.
Mavi's maneuver had thoroughly outmaneuvered them. The Russian military, too, was thrilled with the outcome. He had helped them dispose of aging, soon-to-be-scrapped stockpiles while earning more profit than selling advanced weaponry.
The deal was a stroke of genius. From now on, all military negotiations might as well be left to him.
Mavi, however, didn't dwell on his success. In his view, Russia had been pulling off these kinds of deals for years.
For example, in the past, they had sold subpar fighter jets to Malaysia and in 2014's Winter Olympics, the athlete accommodations were so poorly built that multiple countries' teams suffered inconveniences.
This was just business as usual for Russia. Mavi's deal was merely his first attempt—a small step into the grand tradition of strategic "negotiations."
(End of Chapter)