Zolotukhin, Ivan

Abstract
Amid the ongoing confrontation with the West, Russia’s foreign-policy course is pivoting towards the East, a region where new configurations of international alliances are being shaped, where integration institutes are evolving, and where the mechanisms of influence and cooperation are becoming more complicated.
For Southeast Asia, Russia still remains a guest whose strategic goals are unclear, but who is, nevertheless, aspiring to build closer bilateral relations in such areas as politics, economics, energy, science, and technology. Russia pursues a two-progned approach to cooperation with Southeast Asian nations. On the one hand, it is trying to strengthen its positions in the Asia Pacific by stepping up its involvement in regional integration institutes and processes and various strategic dialogue platforms. On the other hand, Russia is also seeking closer cooperation and contacts on a bilateral level.
On December 13, 2005 the two sides adopted a Comprehensive Action Program aimed at deepening and diversifying mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and ASEAN nations on areas such as military and modernization.
Over the past decade Russia has also been trying to secure ASEAN nations’ interest in pursuing nuclear energy cooperation. Even though Russia is not the most significant actor in Southeast Asia, it has a significant strategic potential, advanced nuclear technologies, and world-class nuclear know-how. This attracts potential partners who are interested in peaceful nuclear energy.
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