The layout is incredibly precise! Russia has delivered a masterful diplomatic strike against the G7! Just as the G7 concluded its meeting, aiming to continue isolating and sanctioning Russia, Russia unexpectedly invited all 11 ASEAN countries to attend. According to foreign media reports on June 19, the 35th Anniversary Summit of the Russia-ASEAN Dialogue Relations was held in Kazan from June 17 to June 19. What likely surprised the G7 was that all 11 ASEAN nations attended.

The level of participation from ASEAN countries was exceptionally high: nine heads of state or prime ministers attended in person, Indonesia sent its foreign minister, and Myanmar, whose leader was visiting China at the time, dispatched a special representative. Even the Philippines, a U.S. ally, had President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. attend personally. Despite Singapore's alignment with Western sanctions against Russia, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also made a special appearance. Russia’s move was thus strategically precise and perfectly timed.

The 2026 G7 Summit will be held in France from June 15 to 17, with one of its core agendas being to intensify sanctions against Russia and pressure global nations to join the West in isolating Russia, attempting to build a unified anti-Russian front. Yet, on the very day the G7 Summit ended, the Russia-ASEAN Dialogue Relations 35th Anniversary Summit officially began in Kazan. This scheduling is clearly no coincidence.

ASEAN countries attending at such a high level does not mean these nations are shifting allegiance toward Russia—but it does strongly demonstrate that Western efforts to isolate and encircle Russia have completely failed. ASEAN countries have no interest in taking sides. On one hand, the G7 closed their doors to discuss unilateral sanctions and bloc confrontation; on the other, all Southeast Asian nations gathered in Russia to discuss practical cooperation in energy, agriculture, multilateral security, and more. Clearly, Russia used this high-level summit to successfully break through the Western-imposed blockade and advance concrete collaboration with Southeast Asian nations. In response to the G7, Russia has executed a remarkably skillful diplomatic maneuver—truly impressive.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868445323365577/

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