Most Asean nations back UN vote over Russia’s Ukraine annexation, given ‘diminishing cost’ of going against Moscow, analysts say
- Seven of 10 Asean nations voted to condemn Russia at the United Nations General Assembly vote on ‘illegal so-called referendums’ of four Ukrainian regions
- Majority Asean support in vote reflects Moscow’s waning influence in region, analysts say, but bloc is likely to retain ‘pragmatic’ approach with Russia
The decision by a majority of Asean nations to support the United Nations vote condemning Russia’s latest Ukraine annexations highlights Moscow’s fast waning influence in the region, analysts say.
The diminishment of Moscow’s economic might, along with its preoccupation with security matters closer to home, meant that seven out of 10 nations in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) did not think twice about voting to support the resolution.
Brunei, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Indonesia were among 143 countries that voted in favour of last week’s motion condemning Russia’s “illegal so-called referendums” of four partially occupied regions in Ukraine.
Also voting in favour of the resolution was Myanmar, which is represented at the United Nations by Kyaw Moe Tun, an envoy who does not have the backing of the country’s ruling junta.
Dylan Loh, an assistant professor in foreign policy at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, said the outcome showed the diminishing cost of publicly admonishing Russia.
“I think as the war drags on and Russia gets stuck in security and economic problems exacerbated by conflict, the cost of going against Russia will diminish and it has been diminishing,” Loh said, noting that the country was “not exactly an economic powerhouse” before its February 24 invasion of Ukraine.
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Russia illegally annexes 4 regions of Ukraine
Beyond its economic size, Russia is also lagging behind other major powers in trade relations with Asean.