Last November, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, and the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asia (Asean) member states met in Singapore to take a historic decision on elevating the Asean-Russia dialogue partnership to a strategic level. Is it just a symbolic gesture or has it material substance? To answer this question, one has to look at it in the context of specific issues of Asean-Russia cooperation and prevailing trends in the global and regional situation.

First of all, this decision once again underlined the important, stabilizing role Asean-Russia relations play at the time of global volatility, political and economic turbulence, growing competition between major international players, rise of protectionism and unilateralism, spread of terrorism and other trans-boundary threats and challenges. The participation of President Putin in Asean-Russia and East Asia Summits in Singapore was highly appreciated by Asean leaders and considered as a clear signal that Russia is an indispensable player in the region.