How Far Has Russia’s 'Turn to the East' Advanced?: A Survey on Merchandise Trade and Transportation Data

• In Event: Statistical Analysis of the Russian Economy with Permanent Sanctions II: Regional Aspects

Abstract

In 2014, Russia's Putin regime annexed Ukraine's Crimea and intervened in its Donbass region. As a result, relations between Russia and Western countries became strained. Against this backdrop, Russia launched the so-called "Turn to the East," or the policy of shifting the emphasis of its foreign relations to Asia. Many specialists argue that with the launch of Russia's full-scale military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the confrontation between Russia and the West has become decisive and the "Turn to the East" has finally become an urgent issue for Russia. Then, how far has the shift to the East actually advanced? In this report, I attempt to examine this question based on data on merchandise trade and transportation, including seaports and railroads.

Author

• Michitaka Hattori, Hokkaido U (Japan)