Publication

This paper identifies the reasons behind Russia’s pivot towards Asia and explains how Moscow is "selling" the move. The immediate reasons for the shift are 1) Russia's adventurism in Ukraine; 2) Moscow's broader and proactive interest in the former Soviet space; 3) the economic pinch being created by Western economic sanctions; and 4) China's growing attractiveness as an economic and military partner. In the case of popularizing its look eastward, the Kremlin has sought to convince the Russian people that its strategies in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Arctic region actually complement China’s Silk Road Initiative. So, how should the EU respond to Moscow's moves? “Strategic patience,” the paper's author argues, is a good place to start.