ABSTRACT
Russia has supported the idea of establishing a more permanent multilateral security framework for Northeast Asia beyond the six-party talks, but Russia's marginal influence in the current framework means that it will have an even more limited role in the development of a regional security architecture post-six-party talks. Regional integration may proceed along economic, political, security, and social-cultural dimensions. In the economic sphere, energy offers Russia the most important link to the other countries of the region but so far this area has had a very limited impact on regional integration for several reasons. Although Russia remains a formidable military power, regional integration in East Asia is driven by economic and political factors and Russian military might is of limited utility when it comes to regional integration. Russia's successful participation in regional integration requires a fundamental shift in Russia's approach to regional relations and equally far-reaching change in its national development strategy.
