Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 06/2012

Russia in the Asia-Pacific: Between Integration and Geopolitics

Paul Richardson

February 2012

East-West Center

Abstract

For the first time in its history, Russia this year assumed the leadership of a major Asia- Pacific forum—APEC. In September the organization’s annual summit will be held in Vladivostok and through this congress Russia hopes to demonstrate to the world, and its own citizens, that the country is once again a power in both Europe and Asia. It is a bold vision, which is bound to Russia’s national development strategy and Great Power aspirations. As one Russian diplomat told this author, if Russia really becomes involved in Asia it could change the country and also the world.