South East Asia – In the Priorities of Russian Policy “Pivot to Asia”

The foreign policy course “Turn to Asia”, taken by Russia in the early 2000s, was not accompanied, however, by the expansion of interaction with the countries of South East Asia. Despite creating a certain foundation for the development of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, its potential is far from being fully explored. The presence of objective factors hampered its expansion and limited the active involvement of Russia in regional integration processes. The article assesses the prospects for the development of relations with Southeast Asian countries in the context of Russia’s strategic and economic interests in the region and the emerging conditions for their implementation. The authors note that the region has begun to acquire strategic importance for Russia, firstly, for economic reasons, given the dynamics of its growth and the possibility of its involvement in Russian integration projects,
secondly, for geopolitical reasons, based on an assessment of its contribution to the formation of a security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region, the principles of which are generally consistent with Russia’s strategic interests, which are realized within the framework of diplomatic and militarypolitical
rapprochement with the countries of South East Asia. The article notes that in building their relations with them, Russia proceeds from the fact that its more active participation in regional affairs may become a factor hindering the establishment of hegemony by one of the great powers in the region, which generally meets the interests of the Southeast Asian countries themselves. At the same time, the authors come to the conclusion that in search of a force  capable of ensuring stability in the region, the choice of Southeast Asian countries is unlikely to stop only on Russia, whose real level of political influence in the region is still low. As for economic cooperation Russia with the countries of South East Asia, in recent years, the interaction between them in the framework of bilateral relations has strengthened, primarily in trade. Russia has a positive balance in trade with the countries of the region. However, investment cooperation between them is small in scope and does not play a significant role in the economies of the counterparty countries. The article provides a detailed analysis of the problems that complicate Russia’s economic cooperation with the countries of South East Asia and offers recommendations for solving them, taking into account the specifics of Russian business and the particularities of the local market development. The authors come to the conclusion that the success of Russia’s economic relations with the countries of South East Asia will largely depend on whether we recognize them as equally important partners as China or India. No political steps taken by Russia in South East Asia will lead to a strengthening of its position in the region, if they are not accompanied by its economic expansion. 

1. Astaf ’eva E.M. (2017) Russia’s Interests in the Asia-Pacific Region and Prospects for Russia-ASEAN Relations. VOSTOK (ORIENS), no 1, pp. 160–167. Available at: http://www.ivran.ru/sites/28/files/160_167_Astafeva.pdf, accessed 31.01.2019 (in Russian).

2. Bukh A. (2016) Russia’s Image and Soft Power Resources in Southeast Asia: Perceptions among Young Elites in Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Contemporary Southeast Asia, vol. 38, no 3, pp. 445–475. DOI: 10.1355/cs38-3d

3. Bukh A. (2017) Can Russia Win Friends and Influence People in Southeast Asia? East Asia Forum, February 17, 2017. Available at: http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2017/02/17/can-russia-win-friendsand-influence-people-in-southeast-asia/, accessed 31.01.2019.

4. Cheang C. (1) (2018) Russia’s Pivot to the East: Putin’s Broadening Move. RSIS Commentary. No 190. November 15, 2018. Available at: https://www.rsis.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/CO18190.pdf, accessed 31.01.2019.

5. Cheang C. (2) (2018) Russia Looks Further East. East Asia Forum, November 23, 2018. Available at: http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2018/11/23/russia-looks-further-east/, accessed 31.01.2019.

6. Klyuchanskaya S. (2011) Prospects for Cooperation between Russia and South-East Asian Countries in Strategic Areas. Security Index Journal, vol. 17, no 2, pp. 55–85. Available at: https://pircenter.org/media/content/files/0/13406399760.pdf, accessed 31.01.2019 (in Russian).

7. Kucera W., Pejsova E. (2012) Russia’s Quiet Partnerships in Southeast Asia. Russia-Malaysia Strategic Partnership through Sabah Case Study. Irasec’s Discussion Papers. No 13. April 2012. Available at: http://www.irasec.com/documents/fichiers/45.pdf, accessed 31.01.2019.

8. Le Hong Hiep (2013) Defence Cooperation Underpins Vietnam-Russia Push for Renewed Economic Cooperation. East Asia Forum, November 13, 2013. Available at: http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2013/11/13/defence-cooperationunderpins-vietnam-russia-push-for-renewed-economic-cooperation/, accessed 31.01.2019.

9. Luzyanin S.G. (2007) Vladimir Putin’s Eastern Policy, Moscow: Vostok-Zapad, AST (in Russian).

10. Mazyrin V.M (ed.) (2016) New Challenges and Security Arrangements in East Asia, Moscow: Forum (in Russian).

11. Martynova E.S. (2011) Strengthening of Cooperation Between Russia and ASEAN: Rhetoric or Reality? Asian Politics & Policy, vol. 6, no 3, pp. 397–412. DOI: 10.1111/aspp.12117

12. Mikheev V.V., Schvydko W.G. (eds.) (2016) Trans-Pacific Security: a Hierarchy of Power and Responsibility, Moscow: IMEMO RAN (in Russian).

13. Rogozhin A.A. (2011) Russia’s Interests in Southeast Asia. South East Asia: Actual Problems of Development. Issue 17, pp. 32–38. Available at: http://sea.ivran.ru/f/17644352.pdf, accessed 21.01.2019 (in Russian).

14. Rogozhin A.A. (2016) Russia-ASEAN: Problems and Prospect of Economic Cooperation. South East Asia: Actual Problems of Development. Issue 31, pp. 12–18. Available at: http://sea.ivran.ru/f/SEA2016n31p12-18.pdf, accessed 31.01.2019 (in Russian).

15. Rogozhina N.G. (2016) The Visit of Thai Prime Minister to Russia – What Comes Next? South East Asia: Actual Problems of Development. Issue 31, pp. 42–52. Available at: http://sea.ivran.ru/f/26607053.pdf, accessed 31.01.2019 (in Russian).

16. Storey I. (2015) What Russia’s “Turn to the East” Means for Southeast Asia. ISEAS Perspective. No 67. December 3, 2015. Available at: https://www.iseas.edu.sg/images/pdf/ISEAS_Perspective_2015_67.pdf, accessed 31.01.2019.

17. Strel’zov D.V. (ed.) (2014) Russia and the East in the Post-Bipolar Period, Moscow: Aspekt Press (in Russian).

18. Tsvetov A. (2016) ASEAN and Russia: the Search for Economic Synergies and Political Like-Mindedness. Carnegie Moscow Center, May 19, 2016. Available at: https://carnegie.ru/2016/05/19/rupub-63618, accessed 31.01.2019 (in Russian).

19. Tsvetov A. (2018) What Stands between Russia and Close Ties with Indonesia? East Asia Forum, June 2, 2018. Available at: http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2018/06/03/what-stands-betweenrussia-and-close-ties-with-indonesia/, accessed 31.01.2019.