THE summit of the Asean-Russian Federation dialogue partnership held middle of this month (June 17-18) in Kazan was described as “commemorative” because the occasion marked the 35th anniversary of the founding of the relationship. As the current chairman of Asean, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. co-presided over the summit meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The heads of state/government of the Asean member countries came to the summit in full force assuring the occasion the best optics in press coverage of the event. It was hailed particularly by Russian media as a victory of Putin’s foreign relations, the summit paraded as a proof to the contrary of Russia’s diplomatic isolation following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.