Russian President Vladimir Putin has forcefully declared that the West is in a state of decline, arguing that the future of global economic and political power now lies in Asia. He has framed Russia’s strategic pivot eastward as a historic and necessary response to what he calls the West's aggressive attempts to impose its will on the world .
Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok, Putin told an audience that included senior Chinese officials that irreversible changes have reshaped international relations. He stated that the role of promising Asia-Pacific nations has grown significantly . “The West's sanctions fever, with its brazen, aggressive attempt to impose models of behaviour on other countries, to deprive them of their sovereignty and subordinate them to their will,” is the main threat to the global economy, Putin said, positioning it as a greater danger than the COVID-19 pandemic . This Russia Asia pivot is now a central theme of Kremlin foreign policy.
Putin's comments extend beyond economics into a broader vision of a new world order. At the Valdai Discussion Club, a key platform for Russian foreign policy ideas, he elaborated on the rise of a "polycentric," or multipolar, world . He described this as a more democratic and dynamic global space where no single power can dictate rules. “Nothing is predetermined,” Putin said, noting that this new openness allows a wider range of countries to influence global processes . He argued that this multipolarity is a direct reaction to failed Western hegemony, which he claimed attempted to arrange the world into a hierarchy with Western nations at the top .
The Kremlin is actively building the architecture for this envisioned future. A key part of this strategy is deepening economic ties with China. Putin announced that Russian energy giant Gazprom would conduct gas transactions with China in Russian roubles and Chinese yuan, moving away from Western currencies . Trade between the two nations has surged, reaching over $240 billion in 2023, with the Russian Far East serving as a strategic gateway for this cooperation . Putin has designated the development of the Far East a "national priority for the duration of the 21st century," vital for accessing growing Asian markets and overcoming Western barriers .
This Asian economic colossus, particularly China, is presented as a reliable partner in contrast to the West. Chinese officials, like top legislator Li Zhanshu and Vice Chairman Han Zheng, have appeared alongside Putin at forums, touting the rapid growth in trade and the strengthening of a new era in Sino-Russian relations . Joint projects, such as planned logistical centers on Bolshoy Ussuriysky Island, are cited as proof of this deepening, practical collaboration .
The Russian-led multipolar world order vision is also being institutionalized through groups like BRICS. Putin notes that BRICS accounts for about a third of the global economy and that Russia now conducts about two-thirds of its trade with member states in national currencies, not dollars or euros . The bloc's attractiveness is growing, with over 30 countries expressing interest in cooperation or membership . For many nations, these groups offer an alternative platform. A Malaysian analyst noted that Global South countries need a level playing field, which BRICS provides, allowing smaller nations to voice their opinions on global issues .
Central Asia, a region with deep historical ties to Moscow, has become a critical negotiating ground in this geopolitical shift. While the West has focused on the region mainly through the lens of sanctions enforcement, Russia has emphasized reassurance and continued commerce . Millions of Central Asian migrants work in Russia, sending vital remittances home, and regional students often choose Russian universities . Putin’s planned state visit to Tajikistan and a Russia-Central Asia summit highlight efforts to reinforce these relationships, with talks covering trade, energy, and regional security .
Western engagement in Central Asia is often perceived as lacking a long-term plan, focused more on penalties than partnership. “America brings us lectures; China brings us railways,” one diplomat wryly commented . In contrast, China is actively constructing infrastructure through its Belt and Road Initiative, with trade between China and Central Asia hitting $95 billion in 2024 . This has led regional leaders to practice a foreign policy of agility, hedging their bets between major powers rather than pledging absolute loyalty to any one side .
Despite Western sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine, Putin has claimed that Russia has not lost anything and is in fact strengthening its sovereignty . He has dismissed the long-term impact of losing European energy markets, boasting of new gas deals with China . However, independent analysis suggests that losing Western technology and expertise will cause long-term harm to Russia's energy industry, limiting its ability to develop complex new oil and gas fields .
The Russian leader's message is one of historic defiance. He has claimed that the West's power is waning and that its attempts to resist the inevitable course of history are only speeding up the decline of its own economic systems . From the podium in Vladivostok to the meeting halls of Valdai, the Kremlin is broadcasting a consistent theme: the world is changing, and Russia’s future is tied to the rising nations of Asia and the Global South .