The Asian Vector Of Russian Foreign Policy

The Asian Vector Of Russian Foreign Policy.

              Asia is justly considered to be one of the main driving forces of global development, whose importance and role will grow in the foreseeable future.

              Russia is turning East, Asia, and, frankly, the move is long overdue.

              Traditionally, Russia’s foreign policy has focused on the West. The rest of the world was seen through the prism of its complex relations with Europe and the United States. However, the balance of forces started a rapid shift eastwards in the early 21st century. Russia eventually understood the major challenges posed by this shift, some of which demand action rather than just lofty words about the emergence of a multipolar world.

              The objective reality is that Russia is not the strongest link in the chain of Asian politics. Its position in Asia is much weaker than that of the looming giant China, rapidly developing India, ambitious South Korea and other countries of ASEAN. In the Euro-Atlantic region, on the contrary, Russia has remained an influential player despite all the shocks of the past twenty years.

              Russia is at a disadvantage, as its Far East is beset by serious economic problems, and major resources will be required to develop the region. Russia has never been viewed politically as an Asian country; its membership in numerous regional forums does not translate into real influence in Asia.

              Russia’s vulnerability in Asia is especially dangerous because Asia is likely to become the center of economic, political and military power in the 21st century. Unless Russia bolsters its position in Asia, it will be relegated to the periphery of global politics.

              Russia needs a comprehensive Asian strategy, including efforts to develop its Far East and to secure its position in Asia. These two elements of the strategy are intertwined: Russia needs foreign partners to help develop its Far East, and without drastically improving that part of the country, Russia will never play a major role in Asia.

              Moscow must also diversify its foreign policy. The obvious economic imbalance between Russia and China could reorient the Asian part of Russia toward Beijing, although formally it would still remain under Moscow’s jurisdiction.

              To ensure stable development in Russia’s Asian regions, China’s investments there should be balanced with investments from the United States, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Europe and other countries.

              If in the 21st century the Asian-Pacific region becomes what Europe was in the 20th century, it should expect to suffer major shocks. In the 20th century, Europe was torn apart by two world wars and a 40-year standoff that could have escalated into open war at a moment’s notice.

              Asia already has one divided nation, Korea, and the future of relations between the United States and China is unclear. The two countries are locked into an interdependence that is not entirely healthy and could transform into an intense rivalry. This is similar to the threat of “mutual assured destruction” that kept the United States and the Soviet Union from each other’s throats 50 years ago.

              Unlike Europe, Asia has no structures in place to maintain security and will have to start building them from the ground up.

              The Asian challenge will change Russia’s view of the world and force it to reevaluate its traditional – and now largely anachronistic – focus on the West. However, Russia’s position in Asia depends on the stability of its relations with the West. Russia must strike the right balance to prosper in the 21st century.

              Not only Russia needs an economically mobile and politically stable Asia - Asia itself is interested in a prosperous Russia. It is obvious that without Russian energy, technical, scientific and intellectual potential Asia will be at least difficult to achieve the objectives of general economic prosperity, which is the fundamental idea of Asian integration