Russia secured another diplomatic victory in June when leaders of 10 ASEAN states gathered in Kazan for a summit marking 35 years of ties. Eighteen months after the BRICS summit in the same city, Moscow once again brought Global South leaders together despite Western efforts to isolate it over Ukraine.
The summit, held on 18 June, was co-chaired by Vladimir Putin and Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Philippine president who currently holds ASEAN’s rotating chairmanship. Myanmar, suspended from top-level participation since the 2021 military coup, was represented by a special envoy. Ten of the bloc’s eleven states sent their leaders to the meeting.
Marcos called for peaceful coexistence in a period of geopolitical instability, disrupted supply chains and threats to food and energy security. He described Russia as a predictable partner ready to work with ASEAN on trade, politics and security, including cross-border challenges such as illegal trafficking and online fraud. Putin, in turn, stressed economic ties, trade diversification and cooperation in energy and food security – issues made more urgent by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the escalation of the US-Iranian conflict in early March.
A diplomatic win for the Kremlin
The summit adopted two main documents: the Kazan Declaration 2026 and the ASEAN-Russia Comprehensive Plan of Action 2026-2030. Neither document mentioned the war in Ukraine, which Moscow viewed as a major success. Russia has thus separated its relations with the Global South from the armed conflict that has lasted more than four years.
Alexander Gabuyev from the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center said the geopolitical climate helped Russia. ASEAN countries are home to over 700 million people and represent nearly 9 percent of global GDP when measured by purchasing power parity. As tensions in the Middle East grew and competition between Washington and Beijing intensified, many regional states had to find alternative suppliers of fuel and fertilizers. Russia stepped into that role, presenting itself as a stable and predictable partner.
There was also a symbolic gesture during the summit: Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone presented Putin with two elephants promised a year earlier by the Lao president. The gift placed Russia in the ranks of Vietnam, China, Japan and Cambodia in the elephant diplomacy led by Vientiane.
Trade doubles but remains behind China and the United States
Trade between Russia and ASEAN nearly doubled between 2015 and 2025, from $18 billion to around $30 billion. ASEAN states increased their exports to Russia by about 70 percent over the decade, with a clear acceleration after 2022. Electronics, machinery, consumer goods, rubber and palm oil were among the most sought-after products. Russian supplies cover more than oil, gas and fertilizers – they also include armaments and nuclear technology components.
Yet the economic relationship is still much smaller than ASEAN’s ties with China, which exceeded $1 trillion last year, or with the United States, which reached $580 billion. Most ASEAN countries, with the exception of Brunei, are net importers of energy resources, and most of them do not hold significant strategic reserves. The Strait of Hormuz closure hit the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam especially hard, reinforcing their interest in Russian fuel and fertilizer supplies.
Singapore remains the only ASEAN member that openly condemned the invasion of Ukraine and joined part of the sanctions. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong explained that the decision was based on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, not on taking sides. He added that Singapore values its long-standing relationship with Russia and would keep looking for cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
A month after Kazan, the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting took place in Manila from 22 to 25 July. On its sidelines, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held their latest talks, including on Ukraine. Poland was present too: Minister of State Assets Wojciech Balczun signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, pointing to Poland’s own experience of rebuilding statehood and territorial integrity and offering cooperation in defense industry, cybersecurity and food security.
The Kazan summit ran parallel to a G7 meeting in France. Western leaders again voiced support for Ukraine, while ASEAN leaders discussed closer economic, energy and technological cooperation with Russia.
Source: WNP.PL, Photo: EPA/VYACHESLAV PROKOFYEV/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL / PAP
