Russia-Ukraine conflict: An analysis of geopolitical alignments in Asian countries

Abstract

This article analyzes the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the geopolitics of Asian countries, by assessing changes in their inclination towards neutrality, criticism of Russia, or support for Russia. Despite the abundance of literature on the topic, few publications have focused on the conflict's effects on Asia. Thus, this article provides a unique perspective by offering a comprehensive view of the geopolitical positions of Asian countries, compared to existing research. The article examines the factors influencing a country's foreign policy orientation, including economic, military, and geographical factors. The study evaluates the positions of Asian nations in the conflict by analyzing their voting records in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and UN resolutions. These sources highlight the details of the conflict. The research methodology is qualitative and relies on library research, with a focus on online newspaper sources like CNN, BBC, The Guardian, and Al-Jazeera. These newspaper sources were chosen because of their comprehensive coverage of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and their focus on geopolitical reactions by Asian nations, which are not extensively discussed in other media. The article is also backed by credible sources including the World Bank Group, official government reports, and research papers from various authors. The findings of the study indicate that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has a significant impact on the domestic and foreign policies of Asian countries.