Putin’s Russia and Southeast Asia: The Kremlin’s Pivot to Asia and the Impact of the Russia-Ukraine War

In the first major study of Russia-Southeast Asia relations since the end of the Cold War, Ian Storey traces the dramatic shifts in Moscow's interests in the region under President Vladimir Putin. He skillfully assesses the long-lasting legacy of the Soviet Union, traces the evolution of Putin's foreign policy and identifies the driving forces behind the Kremlin's Pivot to Asia. With expert insights, Storey examines Russia's political, economic and military engagement with ASEAN and each of the eleven Southeast Asian countries over the past quarter of a century. He also delivers an in-depth analysis of how Southeast Asia responded to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and what the Russia-Ukraine War means for Moscow's great power ambitions in the region and beyond. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Ian Storey charts Russia's pivot away from Europe towards Asia through its largely neglected and often misunderstood relationships in Southeast Asia. He deftly unpicks and rightsizes the Kremlin's influence in the region-all against the backdrop of Moscow's increasing dependency on Beijing after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is an in-depth and comprehensive study, packed with new information and firsthand perspectives, which will be of great value to anyone trying to understand the complex dynamics in Russian foreign policy.Dr Fiona Hill, Senior Fellow, The Bookings Institution; co-author of Mr. Putin: Operative in the KremlinIan Storey has addressed a serious gap in our studies of modern Russia's influence around the world with this clear and well-researched study of Moscow's waxing and waning position in Southeast Asia, a story of a weak hand made weaker by its invasion of Ukraine.Mark Galeotti, Honorary Professor, UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies; author of Putin's Wars: From Chechnya to Ukraine Vladimir Putin is firmly convinced that Russia is a great power with global reach. In this deeply researched and compelling book, Ian Storey shows that, despite Russia's vaunted pivot away from the West and towards Asia, these ambitions remain unrealized in Southeast Asia. Storey fills a major gap in the literature on Russian foreign policy with this clear and comprehensive account of Russia's faltering economic, military and diplomatic efforts in the region. Russia is a minor player in Southeast Asia compared to China and the United States, and Storey shows how Putin's reckless war against Ukraine has further limited Russia's prospects in this dynamic region of growing importance. Professor Brian D. Taylor, Director of the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs, Maxwell School, Syracuse University; author of Russian Politics: A Very Short IntroductionA thoroughly researched and highly readable overview of a much-neglected topic. I was left thinking, "How has no one thought of writing this before?"Professor James D. Brown, Temple University, Japan; author of Cracking the Crab: Russian Espionage Against Japan, from Peter the Great to Richard Sorge Read more