New Delhi, Aug. 8 -- The ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit held in Kazan, Russia on 17-18 June was not merely a ceremonial gathering, but a strategic intent to showcase presence and mark decades of relations, reflecting Moscow's quest to strengthen fallback options and show resilience and defiance despite the Ukraine war.

Moscow is aware that Southeast Asia is not keen to be trapped in the binary Washington-Beijing rivalry and sees an opening to extend its sphere of influence in a region that is now actively searching for alternative options. It also senses that the region's current vulnerabilities - particularly in energy, food, and security - create the means for Russia to reposition itself as a third strategic provider, away from the ...