Boxed in by the U.S. and its allies, faced with an uneasy relationship with China and needing new friends and income, Russia is popping up everywhere in Asia.
A new strategic agreement with Pakistan. A visit by President Vladimir Putin to India. Helping search for a plane that crashed off Indonesia. Coaxing Kim Jong Un to venture out of North Korea. In a region where some governments may be less squeamish about events in Ukraine, Putin is surprisingly welcome.
Russia's forays reflect a dual strategy: To find new markets as its economy is crushed by sanctions and last year's tumble in oil prices, and to diversify from its one big ally in Asia — China. Putin is concerned that his relationship with President Xi Jinping is becoming increasingly tilted in China's favor.