Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is heading to Jakarta for a series of events organized by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He is expected to arrive in Jakarta on Wednesday and stay until July 14.
Lavrov's schedule includes attending meetings of foreign ministers in the formats of Russia-ASEAN, the East Asia Summit (EAS), and the ASEAN Regional Security Forum (ARF). These gatherings aim to bolster Russia's position in the Asia-Pacific region (APR) and promote Russian approaches to the formation of a more inclusive regional security architecture.
"Russia is committed to strengthening its cooperation with ASEAN and enhancing its engagement with the region," reported in Smolenskaya Square.
Food and energy security
The upcoming meeting between Lavrov and ASEAN foreign ministers in Jakarta on July 13 will focus on strengthening cooperation in various spheres, including politics, trade, economy and sociocultural aspects. The discussions will place special emphasis on ensuring food and energy security. Furthermore, the Moscow-ASEAN dialogue agenda covers a range of important topics such as the transition to national currency settlements, joint projects in digital transformation, environmental protection, and agriculture.
Russia's foreign policy priorities include the promotion of a strategic partnership with ASEAN, as outlined in the recently updated Foreign Policy Concept. Recognizing the growing conflict potential in the Asia-Pacific region and the risks associated with NATO's advancement into Asia, the Russian-ASEAN dialogue plays a crucial role in maintaining regional stability.
Lavrov has consistently warned about the risks posed by Western countries, particularly the United States, in the region. "The Indo-Pacific strategy pursued by Washington could disrupt the established architecture," Lavrov said back in April.
Navigating these challenges requires addressing block approaches that undermine ASEAN-centric multilateralism, such as the creation of the AUKUS military alliance that involves Tokyo, Seoul, and several ASEAN countries. It is evident that the objectives of the Indo-Pacific strategies are to contain China and isolate the Russian Federation, as "effective multilateralism" in the Asia-Pacific is understood differently by Western counterparts.
EAS and ARF ministerial meetings
On July 14, Jakarta will host the East Asia Summit (EAS) foreign ministers' meeting. The discussions will prepare for the upcoming summit of the association in September, also to be held in Jakarta. The meeting offers a platform for exchanging views on important regional and international matters.
As the Russian foreign ministry emphasizes, "the priority of the Russian side is the formation of a comprehensive, open, transparent and equal security and cooperation architecture in the Asia-Pacific region on collective non-aligned principles."
This approach aligns with the spirit of the ASEAN Regional Security Forum (ARF), which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Moscow regards the ARF as a critical platform for discussing current regional issues, building mutual trust measures, and strengthening practical cooperation without politicization.
At the 30th session of the ARF, which coincides with the EAS meeting, there will be substantial discussions on countering new challenges and threats, such as terrorism and transnational crime, as well as disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Furthermore, the session will consider some practical initiatives alongside the adoption of a ministerial statement for the forum's 30th anniversary and a work plan for the coming year.
Dialogues on the margins
During the upcoming events in Jakarta, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to engage in both multilateral and bilateral discussions. Apart from participating in these larger forums, Lavrov has scheduled a meeting with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn of Cambodia on July 12, the day of his arrival.
Coincidentally, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will also be in Jakarta during the same period, arriving in Indonesia after attending the NATO summit in Vilnius. However, the US State Department has not provided any information regarding the possibility of a meeting between Blinken and Lavrov on the sidelines of the ASEAN meetings. In comparison, a year ago, before the ASEAN ministerial events in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the US side had expressed more optimism, with the White House promising that Blinken would actively seek a conversation with Lavrov to discuss the topic of prisoner exchange.
However, after the events in August 2022, the Russian minister stated that he did not see Blinken's interest in having a conversation on this matter, stating, "the buttons are all in place."
Meanwhile, in June 2023, Lavrov stated that Russia is willing to engage in talks with the United States. He recalled that when Blinken requested a conversation in the past year and a half, he either answered the call or engaged in a ten-minute conversation on their feet during a G20 summit in Bali. However, there have been no further requests for discussion, according to the Russian foreign minister.
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Based on materials from TASS