Russia

Russia is a peripheral power in Southeast Asia, ranking just 18th for overall influence. However, Russia has pockets of influence, notably in Vietnam and Laos where the legacy of Soviet-era connections, particularly through defence procurement, remains. Russia also has reach in terms of information flows, particularly through radio (Sputnik radio has the greatest reach of any foreign radio service in Southeast Asia), and its defence and diplomatic engagement with isolated post-coup Myanmar. Its economic influence overall is limited, but it ranks fifth for this measure in Vietnam, driven by its bilateral free trade agreement and the relative strength of outbound investment from Vietnam to Russia.