Bulletin N°35 mai 2023 A decree of March 31, 2023 from the President of the Russian Federation describes its new foreign policy concept (*) . the concept is presented as:"a strategic planning document that provides a systemic view of the national interests of the Russian Federation in the field of foreign policy, basic principles, strategic goals, major goals and priority areas of Russian foreign policy."
From Chapter I , which develops the general provisions, the document is based on the millennial history of Russia:"More than a thousand years of independence, the cultural heritage of the previous era, the deep historical ties with traditional European culture and other Eurasian cultures, as well as the ability to ensure the harmonious coexistence of different peoples, ethnic groups, religious and linguistic on a common territory, which has developed over many centuries, determines the special position of Russia as a single country-civilization and a vast Eurasian and Euro-Pacific power uniting the Russian people and other peoples belonging to the cultural and civilizational community of the Russian world."This historical shortcut, if it idealizes a history that was marked by a territorial colonial expansion during the tsarist era, wishes to underline the both Western and Asian character of its ties. The balance between its two attachments has always been the subject of vigorous debate in Russia. The rest of the document shows that the current inclination is clearly Eurasian. While emphasizing the fact that Russia has significant resources, the text recalls its place as a major nuclear power and its role in international relations as a member of the UN Security Council. The document then displays the strategic objective of the Russian Federation, that of building a multipolar world:"Russia is one of the sovereign centers of global development that fulfills a historically unique mission to maintain the global balance of power and build a multipolar international system, as well as to ensure conditions for peaceful and progressive development of humanity on the basis of a unifying and constructive program."
In Chapter II , which deals with the world today: major trends and development prospects, the document endeavors to show the unprecedented nature of the changes underway:“The formation of a more equitable multipolar world order is underway. The unbalanced model of global development which for centuries ensured the advanced economic growth of colonial powers through the appropriation of the resources of territories and dependent states of Asia, Africa and the West is irretrievably disappearing The sovereignty and competitive possibilities of non-Western world powers and regional leading countries are being strengthened The structural transformation of the world economy, its transition to a new technological base, ... the growth of national consciousness,cultural and civilizational diversity and other objective factors accelerate the process of shifting development potential to new centers of economic growth and geopolitical influence and promote the democratization of international relations."The contours of this new pole are emerging here, made up of emerging non-Western powers, called upon to compete with the old one.
What follows confirms this approach to the nature of the two great poles in formation and the resistance of the former to accepting this new international order: " The changes which are currently taking place... are not, however, well received by a certain number of "States accustomed to the logic of global domination and neo-colonialism. These countries refuse to recognize the realities of a multipolar world." The document emphasizes that this leads them to want to slow down the course of history:“A wide range of illegal instruments and methods are used, including the introduction of coercive measures (sanctions) by circumventing the United Nations Security Council, the provocation of coups and military conflicts, threats, blackmail, manipulation of the conscience of certain social groups and entire nations, offensive and subversive actions in the information space A widespread form of interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states has become the imposition destructive neoliberal ideological attitudes that run counter to traditional spiritual and moral values. As a result, the destructive effect extends to all spheres of international relations."
Taking into account its considerations, the document points to the responsibility of the States which aggravate the crisis of globalization, the energy crisis and:This Western policy has become global and is now enshrined in doctrine. This is not the choice of the Russian Federation. Russia does not consider itself an enemy of the West, it does not isolate itself from the West and has no hostile intentions towards it."
In Chapter III : National interests of the Russian Federation in the field of foreign policy, strategic goals and essential tasks set by the foreign policy of the Russian Federation, the document emphasizes the necessary preservation of the Russian state in the face of external threats and support for friendly countries located in its area of influence.
Chapter IV , devoted to the Priorities of the Russian Federation in the field of foreign policy, seeks to define the conditions for the establishment of a fair and sustainable world order:"Russia strives to establish a system of international relations that guarantees reliable security, the preservation of its cultural and civilizational identity and equal development opportunities for all states, regardless of their geographical location, size of their territory, their demography, their resources and their military capacity, or their political, economic and social structure. To meet these criteria, the system of international relations must be multipolar...". Russia intends to: "strengthen the capacity and international role of the BRICS interstate association, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) ), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the ICR (Russia, India, China) and other interstate associations and international organizations, as well as mechanisms with strong Russian participation." This theme is declined in all its aspects, economic, social, political and military. The insistence on cooperation within the framework of a multipolar world centered on Eurasia is further underlined by the desire to promote:"...the processes of regional and interregional economic integration that serve the interests of Russia, first of all within the Union State, the EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union), the CIS, of the SCO and the BRICS, as well as in the perspective of the development of the Greater Eurasian Partnership" .
Chapter V develops the regional aspects of the policy of the Russian Federation. It is first of all what Russia calls the near abroad, this near abroad covers the limits of the former USSR:"The most important thing for the security, stability, territorial integrity and social and economic development of Russia, strengthening its position as one of the influential sovereign centers of world development and civilization, is to ensure long-term, good-neighbourly relations and combining forces in various fields with the CIS member states, which are linked to Russia by centuries-old traditions of a common state, deep interdependence in various fields, a common language and close cultures. In order to pursue the transformation of the near abroad into an area of peace, good neighborliness, sustainable development and prosperity.". The text then declines the whole of the world without forgetting the Arctic and Antarctic territories. The part devoted to Eurasia and Asia-Pacific is particularly developed and underlines the strategic orientation of the construction of a multipolar world centered on the alliance between China and Russia: "It is particularly important to deepen ties and to strengthen coordination with sovereign and friendly global centers of power and development, located on the Eurasian continent and engaged in approaches that coincide in principle with Russian approaches to a future world order and solutions to key problems of world politics, to achieve the strategic goals and main objectives of the foreign policy of the Russian Federation."The document sets out to outline the contours of this Eurasian cooperation-integration: "the establishment of the broad integration contour of the Greater Eurasian Partnership by combining the potential of all Eurasian states, regional organizations and associations, based on the EAEU , the SCO and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as the conjunction of the development plans of the EAEU and the Chinese "One Belt One Road" initiative while preserving the possibility for all interested states and multilateral associations of the Eurasian continent to participate in this partnership and – as a result – the establishment of a network of partner organizations in Eurasia”.
European states are considered hostile to Russia while the United States and the Anglo-Saxon world are appreciated as the leading center of a collective West: "Russia's attitude towards the United States has a combined character, given the role of this state as one of the sovereign influential centers of world development and at the same time the main inspirer, organizer and executor of the aggressive anti-Russian policy of the collective West, the source of major risks to the security of the Russian Federation, international peace, balanced, equitable and progressive development of mankind."
Chapter VIbased on the set of analyzes contained in the document and the strategic considerations contained therein endeavors to summarize formation and implementation of the foreign policy of the Russian Federation.
In summary, this new strategic concept has the main function of defining the principles of Russian policy in the context of an imperialist system of globalized capitalism where the hegemonic domination of one of the actors, the United States, is challenged by the emergence of new powerful capitalist centers which compete with it. Russia's choice to tie itself to China in the context of clashes within imperialism is therefore theorized here and the practical consequences of this choice are clearly expressed.
(*) official text in Russian http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/70811 English version https://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/fundamental_documents/1860586/