Putin Hosts Leaders of Southeast Asian Nations to Form ‘Multipolar World Order’

Despite Moscow’s push for a new global order, U.S. economic, military, and diplomatic power still far outweighs that of its emerging rivals.

Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during a meeting with representatives of international news agencies on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, on June 4, 2026. Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Southeast Asian leaders in Kazan, Russia, on Wednesday as Moscow sought to deepen ties with ASEAN and rally support for a “multipolar world order” challenging US dominance.

The two-day meeting, being held on June 17 and 18, is set to consider ways to expand Russia’s “strategic partnership” with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nations that include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor, and Vietnam.