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Russia still has political influence in the Indo-Pacific region and maintains a good relationship with China, India and Pakistan.Summary
Russia, unlike China, lacks economic influence in the Indo-Pacific region, but it still has political influence. Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (for nearly 20 years), recently visited key nations in the region. Opposition to the QUAD and American' divisiveness' were common themes expressed by Lavrov during his visits. Lavrov needed his diplomatic skills to skirt around regional rivalries. Key points made during Lavrov's visit to the region were as follows:
- Russia and China have no plans for building a military alliance, despite frequently holding Russian-Chinese naval exercises.
- Russia will continue to provide India with cutting-edge defence technologies. Note, however, that due to French and US arms exports to India, Russian exports are dropping.
- India maintains a balancing act between Russia and the US.
- Russia objected to the QUAD, which India supports.
- Russia aims to prevent Pakistani-sponsored extremism from destabilising former Soviet Central Asian states. Note that Russia sells arms to Pakistan and participates in military exercises with Pakistan.
References
- Apr 2021 The Economic Times Pakistan claim about blank cheque from Russia is false propaganda: Diplomatic Sources
- Apr 2021 The Economic Times Russia's military ties with Pakistan limited to counter-terrorism’
- Apr 2021 The Economic Times India is a trusted partner; limited cooperation with Pakistan: Russia
