ASEAN-Russia security ties will outpace trade links

Significance

The visit will be one in the string of recent Russian diplomatic and security initiatives with ASEAN countries. When Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte visited Moscow in late May, he and President Vladimir Putin signed a defence agreement and nearly 1 billion dollars in commercial deals. The head of Myanmar’s military visited Russia in June, discussing military cooperation and viewing military assets.

Impacts

• Bangkok, Hanoi and Manila will court Moscow to hedge against Beijing.
• However, they will also try to avoid taking sides in any Beijing-Washington frictions.
• Moscow’s counterterrorism role in South-east Asia is likely to grow.