Russia Courts Southeast Asia as It Reroutes Trade Around Sanctions

Russian officials described a business forum between Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a strong success, presenting it as evidence that Moscow is finding willing commercial partners despite Western sanctions. A co-chair of the business council praised the forum's results.

Separately, Russian state media reported that the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, proposed cooperation with Russia in energy and tourism and welcomed expanded student exchanges. The overtures fit a pattern of Russia deepening ties with non-Western economies to protect its commerce from sanctions.

These are incremental steps rather than major agreements, and they come from Russian sources presenting them favorably. But taken together they illustrate the slow reordering of Russian trade toward regional blocs and partners outside the Western financial system, a process that gradually reduces the reach of dollar-based sanctions.