Chatham House: Russia's Quest for Global Influence in Asia Pacific
Date: May 25th, 2021 at 15:00 CET / 09:00 EDT Platform: Cisco Webex Events
Link to Video Recording
Abstract
Russia’s presence and influence are expanding in the Asia-Pacific region. This workshop explored Russia’s assertive power projection in North-East Asia and strategic interests with regards to Japan, the Korean Peninsula, and the Pacific Arctic. It assessed Russia’s growing hard and soft power influence in the wider Asia-Pacific region, including its multifaceted engagement with countries like Vietnam, India, and Indonesia. The workshop also discussed where Russian interests intersect and compete with China’s, and outlined policy implications for the United States and its allies.
Agenda
Session One: ‘Near abroad’ and North-East Asia
- 15:10 – 15:20: Russian military posture and objectives - Vasily Kashin, HSE University Russia
- 15:20 – 15:30: Impact for regional countries (notably Japan) - Olga Puzanova, HSE University Russia
- 15:30 – 15:40: Policy implications for the West and the United States - Natasha Kuhrt, King’s College London
- 15:40 – 16:30: Moderated Q&A - Mathieu Boulegue, Chatham House
Session Two: ‘Far abroad’ and the wider Pacific
- 16:30 – 16:40: Russian policy towards Asia-Pacific - Ekaterina Koldunova, Moscow State University (MGIMO)
- 16:40 – 16:50: View from regional countries and China - Sergey Radchenko, Cardiff University
- 16:50 – 17:00: Policy implications for the West and the United States - Marcin Kaczmarski, University of Glasgow
- 17:00 – 18:00: Moderated Q&A - Yu Jie, Chatham House
Biographies
Chair: Mathieu Boulegue
Title: Research Fellow Affiliation: Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House
Mathieu Boulegue is a Research Fellow at Chatham House, specializing in Eurasian security and defense issues. He regularly publishes articles and papers on post-Soviet affairs and is a frequent speaker at international conferences. He holds an M.A. in International Conflict Studies from King’s College London.
Chair: Yu Jie
Title: Senior Research Fellow on China Affiliation: Asia-Pacific Programme, Chatham House
Dr. Yu Jie is a Senior Research Fellow at Chatham House, focusing on Chinese foreign policy and economic diplomacy. She regularly briefs senior policy practitioners and has testified at the UK House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee. She holds a Ph.D. in International Relations.
Speaker: Vasily Kashin
Title: Deputy Director Affiliation: Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies (CCEIS), Higher School of Economics, Moscow
Dr. Vasily Kashin specializes in Russian military posture and objectives in Asia-Pacific. He has worked extensively in defense industry consultancy and research institutions, including RIA Novosti and CAST.
Speaker: Natasha Kuhrt
Title: Lecturer Affiliation: Department of War Studies, King’s College London
Natasha Kuhrt is a Lecturer in International Peace & Security at King’s College London. Her research focuses on Russian foreign and security policies in Asia, and she has published widely on these topics. She holds a Ph.D. from UCL.
Speaker: Olga Puzanova
Title: Director of Undergraduate Studies in International Relations Affiliation: Higher School of Economics, Moscow
Olga Puzanova specializes in Russo-Japanese relations and Japan's foreign policy. She holds a Doctorate from the University of Oxford and has published extensively on regional security in Asia-Pacific.
Speaker: Marcin Kaczmarski
Title: Lecturer Affiliation: School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow
Dr. Marcin Kaczmarski focuses on Russia-China relations and Russia’s foreign and security policy. He is the author of Russia-China Relations in the Post-Crisis International Order (2015) and has published in leading academic journals.
Speaker: Sergey Radchenko
Title: Professor Affiliation: International Relations, Cardiff University
Sergey Radchenko specializes in the Cold War and the history of Chinese and Soviet foreign relations. He is the author of Two Suns in the Heavens (2009) and Unwanted Visionaries (2014).
Speaker: Ekaterina Koldunova
Title: Acting Director, ASEAN Centre Affiliation: Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO)
Dr. Ekaterina Koldunova specializes in regional transformations and security in Asia-Pacific. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to international policy discussions.