Southeast Asian leaders began arriving in the Russian city of Kazan on Tuesday for the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit, with Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong joining the bloc's delegation in what would be the first high-level visit from the city-state to Russia since the imposition of Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine.
The summit, scheduled for June 17-18, marks the 35th anniversary of ASEAN-Russia dialogue relations and brings together leaders from across the 10-member bloc for discussions on trade, energy cooperation, and regional security. An ASEAN-Russia Business Forum is also scheduled on the sidelines of the summit.
Singapore's participation represents a notable shift, according to multiple regional media reports. Wong confirmed his attendance through the Prime Minister's Office, with local outlet CNA and The Straits Times reporting that the visit would be the first by a Singaporean leader to Russia since the conflict in Ukraine began in 2022. Singapore has previously maintained sanctions against Russia over the invasion.
Vietnam's Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has already arrived in Kazan, according to state media VietnamPlus and VOV. Vietnam has historically maintained close ties with Russia dating back to the Soviet era, with ongoing cooperation in energy, education, and defence sectors.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. departed Manila for Kazan on Tuesday morning, GMA Network reported, and is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the margins of the summit. Marcos will lead the ASEAN delegation in discussions, according to the Philippine News Agency.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim departed for Kazan on Tuesday, with Bernama and the New Straits Times reporting that energy security would be a primary focus of his discussions. Anwar said the meeting with Putin would seek assurances on the continued supply of oil and diesel to Malaysia, highlighting the bloc's concerns over potential disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is attending the summit with a focus on economic diplomacy and efforts to revive bilateral trade with Russia, according to Nation Thailand. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet is making his first official visit to Russia for the summit, multiple Cambodian outlets reported. Laos and Russia agreed to deepen cooperation on trade, technology, and energy during a meeting of their prime ministers in Moscow on Monday, Bernama reported.
The summit comes at a time of heightened concern among ASEAN member states over energy prices and supply chain disruptions linked to the conflict in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of global oil passes, has been under particular scrutiny after recent hostilities between Iran, the United States, and Israel raised the risk of supply disruptions.
The commemorative summit is expected to produce a joint statement outlining areas of enhanced cooperation between ASEAN and Russia, though specific outcomes on energy pricing and supply arrangements remain to be seen.
Sources: CNA, The Straits Times, PMO Singapore, GMA Network, Philippine News Agency, Bernama, New Straits Times, VietnamPlus, VOV, Nation Thailand, Mothership
