The Eurasian Economic Union is considering the applications of Myanmar, Nicaragua and Venezuela to become ‘Observer’ states to the EAEU, with several other countries, including India, Israel, Egypt, Tunisia, Pakistan, and Cambodia all negotiating Free Trade Agreements.
Russia is interested in investing in and developing rare earth mineral mining facilities in Central Asia, but is facing competition from the European Union and United States. That has morphed into an ideological struggle with Russia wary of Western ‘colonial’ political developments in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in particular.
Russia and Vietnam are considering the construction of new Gepard-class Frigates for the Vietnamese Navy, with the vessels likely to be built in Vietnamese shipyards under Russian enegineering supervision.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has met with Malagasy Foreign Minister Alice N’Diaye in Moscow to discuss trade development. We detail the current bilateral relations and plans to increase bilateral trade – currently running at about US$500 million per annum.
Vietnam’s Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has invited the Russian President, Vladimir Putin to Vietnam to attend the 2026 APEC conference, the second senior ASEAN official to extend invitations in the past three days. APEC is attended by 21 countries leaders – including the United States.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to the Philippines in November to attend the annual ASEAN summit. Philippines President Marcos extended the invitation following the success of the Russia-ASEAN summit which has just concluded in Moscow. Bilateral trade ties are relatively small at present but a Putin visit is likely to accelerate these ties.
Russia-China bilateral trade has grown 23% year on year in the period January-May 2026, as the trade mix diversifies. This data suggests total bilateral trade for the year will reach just over US$280 billion.
Russia has exported frozen crab to Mexico for the first time. Consumption of seafood in Mexico is increasing, while Russia is the world’s largest exporter of crab with the Kamchatka Crab a sought-after gourmet speciality.
The Russian and Turkish Foreign MInisters have been holding extensive talks in Moscow. We deep dive what was discussed, and the evolution of bilateral relations into a strategic alliance between the Caucasus and the Middle East with significant implications for Eurasia. This is essential reading for anyone involved in the Black Sea and regional trade and investment.
Russia’s agricultural exports to ASEAN are up 5% in the first five months of 2026, with Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and Cambodia showing the largest increases.
Direct flights between Kazan and Malaysia are being discussed at senior Ministerial levels by both countries. Visa-free access for visitors from both Russia and Malaysia is expected to be in place later this year.
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