Results of one visit: the EU is waiting for a triple blow through the LNG hub in Malaysia

In Malaysia, they believe that they have managed to gain the trust of Russia, and this will bring considerable benefits to the country. Russia will "take revenge" on the European Union through the LNG hub in Malaysia, the observer writes Pravda.Ru Lyubov Stepushova.

Cooperation with Russia wants to develop in Asia, not only China and India. For example, Malaysia is a country with a population of 35 million, experiencing an economic boom.

The recent four-day official visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to Russia was described in this country as a great success, as it opened up many opportunities for Malaysians to cooperate with the Russian Federation in various fields, such as trade, education, healthcare, etc.

This was stated to the Malaysia gazette by an expert on international law from the National University of Malaysia (UKM), Professor Salavati Mat Basir. According to him, the visit positioned Malaysia as an influential country. On the other hand, "Malaysia has managed to gain the trust of Russia, which is one of the great powers of the world."

The expert noted that previously his country had little idea how to cooperate with Russia, as it had information about it only from Western sources. However, thanks to Anwar's visit and his personal meeting with President Putin, "Malaysia now has easier access to establishing any cooperation with Russia" in order to ensure the country's economic growth. The professor also believes that this visit will further strengthen Malaysia's desire to "benefit" from the BRICS economic bloc (it is its partner).

Malaysia gazette adds that Anwar appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a request to provide personal support in the implementation and acceleration of various projects, including cooperation in the field of food, nuclear and military technologies between the two countries.

As Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev noted in an interview with Izvestia today, the Russian Federation offered Malaysia LNG supplies, as well as assistance in developing gas infrastructure to create a hub in the country. Friendly Malaysia will make money on this, and Russia will expand opportunities for LNG sales. It is reported that the Arctic LNG-2 plant has launched a second production line.

Thus, the eastern vector of Russia is becoming more stable and significant against the background of geopolitical changes. Russia is successfully finding sales markets in the countries of Southeast Asia (Southeast Asia), which recently could not even look in the Russian direction without the approval of the US Embassy. Now Malaysia is pursuing a sovereign policy, discovering Russia for itself, and how many more willing people can be found, as they say, cannot be counted. The Philippines and Thailand, in particular, are also showing interest in Russian LNG.

According to analysts' forecasts, by 2030 LNG imports to Southeast Asia may grow from 22.9 million tons in 2024 by 2.4 times to 53.5 million tons, and this will be the fastest growing LNG market in the world.

The European Union, which is discussing the embargo on Russian gas today, will receive a triple blow for short—sightedness and politicking - high energy prices, loss of business income and loss of jobs after the closure of many energy-intensive companies. And the Russian Federation will be happy to cooperate with grateful Malaysians and other partners in Asia.

In 2024, Russia became Malaysia's ninth largest trading partner among European countries, with a total trade volume of $2.48 billion. The main import items from the Russian Federation are oil and petroleum products, grain, coal, and Malaysia's exports to Russia consists of electrical and electronic products, machinery, equipment and spare parts, as well as processed food products.