US, EU condemn Russia's actions in rare Southeast Asian meeting

Top diplomats from the United States and the European Union criticized Russia’s foreign minister for his negative and unconstructive attitude. The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, used the occasion to engage in fresh talks with China on managing tensions, while also urging Southeast Asian nations to resist coercion from Beijing.

During the meetings, Blinken did not make an effort to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who delivered a closed-door presentation at the session attended by global powers. After the talks, Blinken described Lavrov’s involvement as unproductive and criticized his negative presentation and agenda. According to Blinken, Lavrov attributed every problem in the world to the United States..

Similarly, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, characterized Lavrov’s speech as aggressive and stated that Russia’s war in Ukraine would persist. Borrell quoted Lavrov as claiming that everything was a “West conspiracy” and that Russia had no intention of ceasing its aggression or withdrawing troops.

Lavrov did not address the media after the meeting. However, in an earlier interview with Indonesian media, he asserted that the war in Ukraine would not end until Western nations abandoned their efforts to defeat Russia.

Blinken and Lavrov last encountered each other in March in New Delhi, where they briefly spoke in person about the release of detained US citizens and the invasion of Ukraine. US officials believe that Russia is not genuinely committed to negotiating an end to the war. Nonetheless, several developing nations have been pressing for diplomacy and have refrained from joining Western efforts to isolate Russia.

In the coming months, Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is currently shunned by the US and its allies, is expected to be welcomed at summits in India and South Africa.

Despite tensions with Russia, the United States considers China its primary long-term competitor and has sought to find common ground with Southeast Asian nations, which are wary of Beijing’s assertiveness. Blinken, addressing ASEAN foreign ministers, expressed concern about China’s growing assertiveness in the South and East China Seas and the Taiwan Strait. He emphasized the importance of a region where countries have the freedom to choose their own paths and partners, and conflicts are resolved openly rather than through coercion.

Friction between China and Southeast Asian nations, particularly Vietnam and the Philippines, has been escalating due to China’s expansive maritime claims. Tensions have also intensified over Taiwan, with Beijing refusing to rule out the use of force to seize the self-governing democracy.

Indonesia, the host country, cautioned against turning ASEAN into a battleground for global rivalries. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stressed that the Indo-Pacific region should not become another theater for conflicts.

Despite their differences, the United States and China have been working to prevent disagreements from escalating. Blinken held a meeting with China’s foreign policy supremo, Wang Yi, lasting over an hour and a half, where they discussed various issues, including recent cyberattacks. Australia’s Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, also had a meeting with Wang, urging China to handle differences wisely and provide transparency regarding a policing pact with Solomon Islands. Additionally, the Japanese Foreign Minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, engaged in talks with Wang, during which the two countries exchanged criticisms over Japan’s plan to discharge treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant.

The discussions at the ASEAN meeting were dominated by the crisis in Myanmar. The military junta, which seized power in February 2021, was not invited to the gathering. Blinken called for increased pressure on Myanmar’s military regime. In a notable development, North Korea sent an official representative to Jakarta, despite conducting a recent test of its latest intercontinental ballistic missile. South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin, along with Blinken and Hayashi, emphasized the need to send a clear message to North Korea that its provocations would not go unanswered.

Overall, the meeting in Southeast Asia witnessed condemnations of Russia’s actions by the US and EU, discussions on managing tensions with China, concerns about China’s assertiveness in the region, and calls for unity among Southeast Asian nations against external pressures. The diplomatic engagement between global powers and the complex dynamics in the region continue to shape the geopolitical landscape in Southeast Asia.