Russian Security Policy and the Prospects for Multilateralism in the Asia-Pacific

With the breakup of the Soviet Union and the decline of Russian military and economic power, Moscow lost much of its former influence in the Asia-Pacific region (APR). Many regional actors feel that Russia currently does not have much to offer to other Asia-Pacific countries. However, this does not mean that Russia has lost interest in the APR, nor agreed to the role of a sidelined player. On the contrary, Russian strategic planners view the Asia-Pacific as an important priority for Moscow's international policy. The Asia-Pacific is seen as both a promising market for Russian products and a potential source of investments and advanced technology. In particular, Moscow believes that cooperation with Asia-Pacific nations could help to revive the Russian Far East. […]

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