Exploring the New Trends in ASEAN-Russia Cooperation under the Background of The Belt and Road Initiative

Since the Soviet Unions collapse, Russias foreign policy has undergone a decisive pivot toward Asia, transitioning from Yeltsins fragmented engagement to Putins strategic eastward turn. This shift, intensified after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and subsequent Western sanctions, has driven Moscow to prioritize ASEAN as a critical partner for economic diversification and geopolitical recalibration. Concurrently, ASEANstrengthened by five decades of regional integration since its 1976 inceptionhas emerged as a pivotal actor in Eurasia, balancing great-power rivalries while advancing its connectivity agenda under the ASEAN Connectivity Master Plan 2025 (MPAC 2025). Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), launched in 2013, now serves as the linchpin bridging these strategic imperatives, aligning Russias resource-driven outreach with ASEANs infrastructure and digital modernization goals. While the BRI facilitates Russias sanction evasion and ASEANs infrastructure development, it also faces challenges: Chinas dominance in BRI financing risks marginalizing ASEANs governance priorities, while Russias bilateralism clashes with MPAC 2025s multilateral ethos.As the BRI enters its second decade, its capacity to foster equitable growth hinges on reconciling Chinas scale with ASEANs sovereignty safeguards and transforming Russias transactional approaches into sustainable contributions. This study will examine how the BRI influences ASEAN-Russia relations, highlighting both progress and challenges. It will assess current economic cooperation, particularly in trade, energy, and investment, and explore ways for China, Russia, and ASEAN to enhance collaboration and create a stable environment for long-term development.