Can Russia secure ‘third power’ status in Southeast Asia with energy push?

As Southeast Asia grapples with energy supply uncertainty, fallout from the Iran conflict and intensifying rivalry between the United States and China, Russia appears to be presenting itself as a viable “third power” option for the region, analysts say. Moscow’s pitch was on display at the Asean -Russia Commemorative Summit in Kazan on Thursday, where Russian leader Vladimir Putin met regional counterparts, and the two sides agreed to bolster political and economic ties, alongside several bilateral deals struck on the sidelines. The summit gave Russia another platform to court the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at a time when many regional governments are looking to diversify energy sources, keep their diplomatic options open and avoid being drawn too tightly into either Washington’s or Beijing’s orbit. Moscow struck multiple energy-related agreements this week, such as a framework for cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy with Laos , which includes exploring a Russian-designed nuclear power plant in the Southeast Asian country as it works towards net-zero emissions in 2050. It also provided assurances to Malaysia on petrol, oil and gas supplies, with preparations made “to establish a long-term agreement”, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told reporters. Officials from Laos and Russia sign a nuclear energy cooperation agreement in Moscow on Monday. Photo: EPA Alexey Likhachev, director general of Russian state-owned nuclear energy firm Rosatom, meanwhile confirmed that Indonesia “is showing tremendous interest in nuclear technologies” as it explored plans to develop floating nuclear power plants.