For the past two years, the United States and its allies have been attempting to isolate Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, on the global stage. However, in a surprising turn of events, Putin has recently achieved diplomatic wins with two important U.S. partners in Asia within just a month, despite ongoing conflicts in Ukraine.
During a visit to Vietnam last month, Putin secured deals on energy cooperation and praised the country’s neutral stance on the Ukrainian conflict. This week, he welcomed India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in Moscow, where they vowed to strengthen bilateral relations and discussed ways to circumvent Western sanctions.
These visits serve as a reminder of the limitations of Washington’s efforts to isolate Putin and highlight the challenges faced by U.S. foreign policy in Asia and the Indo-Pacific region.
In recent years, the U.S. has sought to bolster alliances with India and Vietnam to counterbalance China’s growing influence in the region. While economic and military partnerships have flourished, both India and Vietnam have been deepening ties with Russia since the onset of the Ukraine conflict.
Although Russia has historically been a major arms supplier to both countries, recent data shows a decline in military cooperation. However, energy partnerships have flourished, with India becoming a significant importer of Russian oil and Vietnam engaging in oil exploration projects with Russian companies.
Despite Russia’s diminishing military influence and the challenges it faces, India and Vietnam see strategic value in maintaining ties with Russia. The weakening of Russia’s global presence could leave these countries more vulnerable to Western pressures and hegemony.
In response to increasing Western sanctions, countries like India and Vietnam are exploring alternative economic systems and payment mechanisms to reduce dependence on Western institutions. Discussions between Modi and Putin regarding a bilateral payment system highlight this shift.
This divergence in strategic interests underscores the difference between U.S. foreign policy objectives in Asia and the goals of its Asian partners. While the U.S. views China as a major threat and competitor, countries like India and Vietnam prioritize maintaining a balance of power in the region, which they believe will be facilitated by Russia’s involvement.