In the shifting global world order and the transfer of world power from the Western bloc to the Eastern bloc, Pakistan and Russia are exploring new opportunities to strengthen their alliance.

Shifting Global Power and the Reorientation of Alliances

Regional and global dynamics pushed both countries closer to strengthening their alliances. The Russia-Ukraine conflict played a critical role in enhancing the bilateral relations between Islamabad and Moscow, as the latter needed new allies to expand its diplomatic outreach. Pakistan has long been a close ally of the United States. However, the latter repeatedly shifted its tilt towards other regional powers once its regional interests changed. On the other hand, Russia is globally regarded as a reliable ally. Therefore, Pakistan recently announced its pivot to the East to minimize its dependence on the United States. This new policy shift encouraged Islamabad to fortify its relations with Moscow.

Evolution of Pakistan–Russia Relations: From Cold War to Strategic Cooperation

Despite a bitter past, both countries have established strong relations in agriculture, energy, defense, and the counter-terrorism sector. Both nations can yield economic benefits from their mutual geopolitical and strategic interests. This is substantiated by the launch of the first Asian Forum for Pak-Russia strategic dialogue for promoting Eurasia’s regional cooperation and addressing regional unconventional security challenges. The bilateral relations between the two sides were established on........

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