Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visits to North Korea and Vietnam carry a dual message: reinforcing Moscow’s presence in East and Southeast Asia and signaling to Beijing that Russia is not a subordinate partner. Putin aims to show that Russia has strategic options, countering China's influence. Prof. James Curran notes that Putin's engagement with nations having complex relations with China, like North Korea and Vietnam, highlights his intent. In Hanoi, Russia proposed joint energy projects and nuclear power development, reaffirming its longstanding ties and countering Beijing’s dominance.
