Thanks to Trump, Russia's own 'pivot to Asia' is bearing fruit
Last week, leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations led by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited Kazan, Russia, to celebrate 35 years of ASEAN-Russia relations and 30 years of dialogue cooperation. Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the leaders of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam to Russia’s fifth largest city where they signed a joint statement promoting a “just multipolar world as guided by international law and the principles of the UN Charter.” Under normal circumstances, the summit would have gone unnoticed. After all, ASEAN and Russian leaders have met in the past — most recently in 2016 in Sochi, Russia. However, within the context of the global energy crisis caused by the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, the Russia-ASEAN summit this time around was geostrategically significant. For decades, Moscow has sought to deepen engagement with Asian partners in its own “turn to the East”— essentially the Kremlin’s “pivot to Asia”— strategy to reduce its dependence on Europe. Especially as relations with the West deteriorated over the Ukraine war, Russia has made Asia the centerpiece of its long-term strategy to sustain economic growth, expand energy exports, and reinforce its vision of a multipolar world order. Russia’s economic relationship with ASEAN has expanded steadily over the past decade but remains modest compared to the bloc’s ties with China and the United States. Bilateral trade has grown from roughly $17-18 billion in 2015 to approximately $30 billion in 2025, an increase of about 70 percent, driven largely by Russia’s post-2022 pivot toward Asian markets following Western sanctions. Moscow’s exports to ASEAN are concentrated in commodities — including crude oil, petroleum products, coal, fertilizers, wheat, and metals — while ASEAN exports electronics, machinery, consumer goods, rubber, and palm oil. Although Russia has increased energy sales to Southeast Asia, particularly through trading hubs such as Singapore and via discounted crude and refined petroleum products to countries including Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Indonesia, ASEAN accounts for only a small share of Russia's overall oil exports, with China and India still purchasing roughly four-fifths of Russian crude. By comparison, China-ASEAN trade exceeded $1 trillion in 2025, making China ASEAN’s largest trading partner, while U.S.-ASEAN goods trade reached approximately $580 billion, underscoring that Russia’s commercial footprint in Southeast Asia remains relatively limited. Nonetheless, the Kremlin’s economic engagement with ASEAN is on an upward trajectory, fueled by growing energy cooperation, expanded use of local-currency settlement mechanisms, and Moscow’s broader strategic effort to deepen economic ties across the Indo-Pacific. “It is a strategic partnership that serves as an essential stabilizing factor in the Asia-Pacific amidst geopolitical turbulence,” Putin argued at the summit, and the two sides made good on that rhetoric. Indeed, ASEAN and Russia adopted a Joint Statement on Energy Cooperation that commits them to deeper collaboration on LNG, natural gas, renewable energy, hydrogen, nuclear power, and broader energy-transition initiatives. The agreement reflects Southeast Asia’s growing demand for energy security and Russia’s efforts to expand energy ties with Asian partners amid continued Western sanctions. While no ASEAN state publicly pledged to increase imports of Russian oil or other commodities at the Kazan summit, leaders adopted an energy cooperation framework that expands collaboration in the future. The reality is that Southeast Asia is strategically ripe for Russian engagement right now. The region has been particularly hard hit by the global energy crisis since Trump began his Iran war and Tehran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz. Most notably, shortly after the conflict began, the Philippines became the first and only nation to declare a national energy emergency because of its overdependence on oil from the Strait of Hormuz and limited strategic reserves. Other ASEAN nations, such as Thailand and Vietnam, have also been extremely vulnerable to supply chain disruptions, prompting the Philippines, as ASEAN chair, to use last month’s ASEAN Summit in Cebu to push for a regional oil-sharing framework and closer coordination on energy security. While India received a dedicated waiver from the Trump administration to purchase Russian oil during the energy crisis, several energy-vulnerable ASEAN states — including the Philippines, Indonesia, and potentially Brunei — were among the likely beneficiaries of broader U.S. sanctions waivers that temporarily permitted them to purchase Russian oil already at sea. Washington, however, never publicly identified any ASEAN country as receiving an exemption. And because the Trump administration refused to offer its direct and specific support to hard-hit Southeast Asian countries, the vacuum naturally enabled the Kremlin to more easily engage on the issue at Kazan. Last week, the Trump administration complicated the matter further by quietly allowing all waivers to end, thereby reimposing sanctions on Russian oil for consumers, including Southeast Asia. Trump signaled he would do this at the G7 summit because, in his words, “the oil is now flowing.” But the U.S.-Iran deal remains fragile, the opening of the Strait of Hormuz is too, and Trump is still threatening resumed military strikes. For Southeast Asia, Russia by comparison looks far more predictable and stable, even if its oil remains under sanction; in other words, it might be worth the risk. That said, no ASEAN member is likely to violate American sanctions on Russia — at least not for now. But there are other critical products that are not under sanction from Russia, namely fertilizer, which individual states may decide to import, giving Moscow more leverage in the region. Putin also delivered an immediate goodwill gesture to Manila by ordering the release and repatriation of 24 Filipinos who had been detained in Siberia for roughly nine months after Marcos raised the issue during their bilateral meeting in Kazan. The episode could bolster Russia’s image across Southeast Asia as a pragmatic partner capable of delivering tangible results through leader-to-leader diplomacy. In a region where personal relationships and executive authority often carry significant weight, Putin’s intervention may resonate particularly well among governments that value strong centralized leadership. Trump is also engaging in transactionalism in Southeast Asia and worldwide, but typically the results benefit him, his family, the Trump organization, or the United States — and not the partner nation. Putin’s intervention, meanwhile, produced a tangible concession for Manila rather than Moscow. That distinction could resonate in parts of Southeast Asia, particularly among more authoritarian governments that value personal diplomacy and judge partnerships primarily by what they deliver. None of this means Russia is poised to replace the United States in Southeast Asia. To be sure, the Kremlin’s strategic opening in Southeast Asia remains modest, but it is real. Moscow lacks the economic resources, investment capacity, and security presence necessary to compete with Washington or Beijing across the region. Yet great power influence is often gained at the margins, especially during moments of crisis. By contributing to a global energy shock, offering only limited relief to vulnerable Southeast Asian states, and then abruptly reimposing sanctions on Russian oil, the Trump administration has created conditions that allow the Kremlin to present itself as a useful and responsive partner. If Washington wants to maintain its strategic position in Southeast Asia, it will need to do more than compete with China. It will also need to avoid handing Russia opportunities that it could not have created on its own.
ASEAN Liderleriyle Kazan Zirvesi, Rusya'nın Asya Açılımını PekiştirdiEx Berlusconi villa in Sardinia sold to Qatari sheikh, ex PM
(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 24 - The former Sardinian luxury villa of late premier Silvio Berlusconi has been sold to Qatari Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, the former prime minister of the Gulf emirate, the Berlusconi family holding company Fininvest said Wednesday, confirming media reports. Villa Certosa has been sold to the royal family's Constellation real estate group for an undisclosed sum, it said. The Sultan of Brunei had also voiced interest in the 500 million euro villa, for decades one of the most famous private estates in Europe. Located on the stunning coastline of Sardinia, the sprawling waterfront compound became closely associated with three-time ex premier Berlusconi and his larger-than-life lifestyle. Satellite images of 150-acre Villa Certosa show an amphitheatre on the grounds, and Berlusconi reportedly built a giant mock volcano on the property for a party, as well as an underground escape tunnel to the beach for a quick getaway of needed. The villa was not the main location for the media mogul's infamous bunga bunga sex parties, which largely took place at his primary residence at Arcore outside Milan. (ANSA). Read article...
Meeting with Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah
Vladimir Putin held a meeting with Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah on the sidelines of the Russia-ASEAN summit. On the Russian side, the meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov, Minister of Energy Sergei Tsivilev, and Deputy Minister of Defence Alexei Krivoruchko. The meeting was held at the Galiasgar Kamal Tatar State Academic Theatre in Kazan. * * * Beginning of Russia-Bruneitalks President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Your Majesty, Colleagues, friends, It is a genuine pleasure to welcome you to Russia, here in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan. I am very grateful to you for making the journey to join us once again. Tomorrow, we will take part together in the summit marking the 35th anniversary of Russia-ASEAN relations. This year, we also celebrate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries, which were established on October 1, 1991. Built on friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation over the past years, our interstate ties remain at a high level. That is reflected not only in our political dialogue, but also in our consistent action to expand mutual trade and deepen collaboration across key sectors, energy above all. Our bilateral trade is showing positive momentum and is now approaching the billion-dollar threshold. In that context, I believe it would be worth considering the creation of a bilateral intergovernmental commission – a mechanism that would allow us to systematically deepen cooperation in fuel and energy, as well as in other promising areas. There is also considerable potential in tourism and people-to-people exchanges, which are greatly facilitated by the two-week visa-free regime currently in place. Your Majesty, we greatly appreciate Brunei’s consistently balanced position on international affairs, including on the highly complex and challenging issues confronting the world today. That, without doubt, is a reflection of your personal stature as one of the most experienced heads of state in the world. It was Russia and Brunei, after all, that pioneered the idea of a pan-regional security architecture. And today, the Russia-ASEAN strategic partnership stands as an important stabilising factor in the Asia-Pacific region. During the summit, together with the colleagues, we will be able to have a thorough exchange of views on how we can work together to strengthen peace and security in the region, against the backdrop of the current international situation. Thank you, Your Majesty. Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah: Thank you, Mr President. It is a pleasure to meet you. Let me begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to you and the Russian Federation for hosting the 35th ASEAN-Russia commemorative summit and for the generous hospitality accorded to me and my delegation. I look forward to joining you and other ASEAN colleagues at the Summit and extend my best wishes and full support for a successful outcome. It has been over a decade since my last visit to Russia, and I still cherish the fond memories of my earlier visit to your country. I am therefore delighted to be in Russia and to be in the beautiful city of Kazan for the first time. I am looking back – with deep appreciation – on every opportunity we have had to meet over the years, from welcoming you to Brunei for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in 2000 to your extensive virtual participation in the 4th ASEAN-Russia Summit and the 16th East Asia Summit during our ASEAN chairmanship in 2021. These exchanges have always been warm, and I look forward to our discussion today.
Putin, Filipinler Devlet Başkanı Marcos'u Kremlin'de AğırladıRussia – ASEAN Summit
Vladimir Putin is taking part in the anniversary plenary sessions of the 5th Russia – Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, marking 35 years since the establishment of their relations. The agenda for the meeting in Kazan includes a review of the strategic partnership between the Russian Federation and ASEAN, as well as new avenues for collaboration on the political, economic and humanitarian tracks, and an exchange of views on the latest international and regional developments. Heads of the delegations taking part in the summit posed for a group photo ahead of the first plenary meeting. ASEAN includes 11 Southeast Asian countries: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. Russia has been ASEAN’s full-scale dialogue partner since July 1996. Taking part in the summit are Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia Hun Manet, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Indonesia Sugiono, Prime Minister of Lao PDR Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim, Presidential Special Representative and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar hau Khan Sum, President of the Republic of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Xanana Gusmão, and Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Le Minh Hung. Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Dr Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Nurlan Yermekbayev, and Chair of the Eurasian Economic Commission’s (EEC) Board Bakytzhan Sagintayev are also taking part in the summit. * * * Opening remarks by the President of Russia at the 5th Russia – ASEAN Summit President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, friends, I am delighted to welcome all of you to Kazan for the anniversary Russia – ASEAN Summit, which marks 35 years since the establishment of relations between Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Friends, many of you have visited our country in the past, while for some, this is their first time here. Welcome to everyone. Delegations at the previous Russia – ASEAN meeting did not include Timor-Leste, which joined ASEAN in 2025. We are delighted to have the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste with us today. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is an authoritative organisation extending beyond the Asia-Pacific region. Relevant on a global scale, it has withstood the test of time, building a system of cooperation between states founded on universally recognised norms of international law and mutual respect for each other’s interests. These are precisely the principles underpinning Russia-ASEAN relations. It is a strategic partnership that serves as an essential stabilising factor in the Asia-Pacific amidst geopolitical turbulence, contributing to the formation of a balanced security architecture and equitable mutually beneficial cooperation. Today’s agenda is as follows: we will exchange opinions on topical regional and international issues, share assessments of the outcomes of Russia-ASEAN cooperation over the past 35 years, and discuss future areas, tasks and objectives of the Russia-ASEAN strategic partnership. It goes without saying that our discussion may cover other issues as well. Please feel free to raise any matters you deem worthy of discussion. Our cooperation demonstrates clear results. We have developed a robust legal and regulatory framework to govern our relations, as well as an extensive network of joint mechanisms. We have launched new dialogue platforms. We have expanded the scope of practical cooperation in such areas as combating new security challenges and threats, as well as trade and investment, energy, agriculture, digitalisation, science and technology, tourism, and humanitarian contacts more broadly. I hope this day will be productive and we will have a constructive and engaged exchange of opinions, as always. I will be co-hosting this meeting with the President of the Republic of the Philippines, a country chairing ASEAN this year. With great pleasure, I pass the floor to Mr Ferdinand Marcos for his opening remarks. Mr President, please. To be continued.
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Brunei picks helicopter-flying Prince Abdul Mateen as foreign minister
Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has named one of his youngest sons as foreign minister in a major cabinet reshuffle – largely seen as a move to prepare for the next generation of leaders in the oil-rich kingdom. As the 10th child and fourth son of the sultan, Prince Abdul Mateen is down the line of succession, but his matinee idol looks have earned him more than 3 million followers on Instagram, providing a modern face to the royal family. Another younger son, Prince Abdul Malik, was also...
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