In the context of the on-going conflict between Russia and Ukraine, on 31 March 2023, the Russian Federation unveiled its new Concept of Foreign Policy, which put forth judgements about key development trends in the world today and directions of Russia’s foreign policy in the new era.

Main development trend in the world

On the basis of assessing situations in the world, region, and the country, the Concept makes some judgements about main development trends in the world.

First, the world is going through revolutionary changes towards a multipolar order. The imbalanced model of world order which has for centuries ensured the advanced economic growth of colonial powers through the appropriation of resources of dependent territories and nations is fading into the past. The sovereignty and competitive opportunities of non-Western emerging powers and regional leading countries are being strengthened. The world economy is witnessing a structural transformation to a new technology-based economy, such as artificial intelligence, information technology, new energy, biological technology, nanotechnology, and so on. The growth of national consciousness, cultural and civilisational diversity, and other objective factors are accelerating the process of shifting the development potential to new centres of economic growth and the geopolitical influence is promoting democratisation of international relations.

Second, some nations that pursue the logic of global dominance and neocolonialism do not welcome positive revolutionary changes in the world. These countries refuse to recognise realities of an emerging multipolar world and deny the inevitable trend towards a new world order. They, therefore, attempt to eliminate competitors in the political, military, and economic spheres through a range of illegal instruments and methods such as the introduction of sanctions in circumvention of the UN Security Council, provocation of coups d’état and military conflicts, manipulation of the consciousness of certain social groups and entire nations, and so forth. A widespread form of interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states has been the imposition of neoliberal viewpoints and ideologies that run counter to traditional spiritual and moral values while the capitalism in the era of globalisation and the neoliberalism are suffering a systematic crisis.

Third, the United Nations (UN) and other multilateral organisations, which function as platforms for harmonising the interests of all nations, are being manipulated. A small group of states led by the US is trying to replace the international system based on the UN Charter with the concept of “a rules-based world order” – another name for the post-Cold War unipolar world order under the control of Washington. They impose their own rules, standards, and norms to hinder equitable participation of all UN members. For example, the US 2022 National Security Strategy specifies that if the US leads the rules-based world order, there will be peace and prosperity for the human race. Conversely, if this leadership is assumed by another nation, the world will be plunged into chaos. Nevertheless, in fact, the rules-based order has failed to prevent military interferences in sovereign nations. The wars of aggression against Yugoslavia (1999), Afghanistan (2001 – 2021), Iraq (2003), Libya (2011), and Syria (2011 – 2017) were launched in the name of protecting human rights, promoting freedom and democracy, countering terrorism, preventing weapons of mass destruction, and so on.

Fourth, the crisis of economic globalisation is deepening. Current problems, including in the energy market and financial sector and the degradation of many previous development models and instruments, are caused by irresponsible macroeconomic decisions such as uncontrolled printing and issuance of money, illegal unilateral sanctions, and unfair competition. The abuse by certain states of their dominant position in some spheres intensifies the process of fragmentation of the global economy and increase disparity in the developments of states. It is within this context that some nations such as China and Russia must develop new national, international payment systems. Others show growing interest in new international reserve currencies in order to diversify international economic cooperation mechanisms.

Fifth, military power is playing an increasingly vital role in international relations. Conflict areas are expanding in a number of strategically important regions. Accordingly, that many countries are investing in modernisation of their offensive military capabilities and withdrawing from arms control treaties is undermining strategic stability. The blurring of the line between military and non-military means of inter-state confrontation is deepening armed conflicts in some regions. The risk of conflict between major powers, including the participation of nuclear powers, is escalating and growing into a local, regional, or global war.

Sixth, a logical response to the crisis of the world order is the strengthening of cooperation between the states that are subject to major powers’ pressure. The formation of regional and trans-regional mechanisms of economic integration and interaction to solve common problems are being intensified. Other steps are also being taken to protect the vital national interests. High level of interdependences, global reach and transnational nature of challenges and threats limit the ability of individual states and military, political, trade, and economic alliances to ensure security, stability, and prosperity. Effective solutions to the numerous problems of our time and peaceful progressive development of large and small nations and humanity as a whole can be achieved only through combining the potential of good faith efforts of the entire international community on the basis of the balance of power and interests.

Foreign policy direction of the Russian Federation

As for political direction, Russia does not consider itself to be an enemy of the West, is not isolating itself from the West, and has no hostile intentions with regard to it. Russia hopes that, in the future, Western states will realise that their policy of confrontation and hegemonic ambitions lack prospects. Once they have accepted realities of the multipolar world order, they will resume pragmatic cooperation with Russia guided by the principles of sovereign equality and respect for each other’s interests. The Russian Federation is ready for dialogue and cooperation with friendly and unfriendly nations on such a basis; is committed to elimination of the remnants of the neocolonialism; counters manipulation of the role of the UN and international legal instruments; establishes a sustainable and fair world order; strengthens the role and position of the group of emerging economies, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO); supports multilateral institutions and forums; respect for states’ sovereignty over choosing models of development; and refrains from pursuing hegemony in international affairs.

Regarding geographical direction, the Concept of Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation identifies 10 regions. In the Near Abroad, Russia prioritises development of sustainable long-term good-neighbourly relations with the CIS member states. In the Arctic regions, Russia seeks to promote socio-economic development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and advance the Northern Sea Route as a key sea lane of communication between Europe and Asia. In the Eurasian continent direction, Russia aims to transform Eurasia into a common space of peace, stability, mutual trust, development, and prosperity; strengthen the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation with China; build a particularly privileged strategic partnership with India; and connect the Eurasian Economic Union, including Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, with China’s Belt and Road Initiative. In the Asia-Pacific direction, Russia increases economic, security, humanitarian, and other cooperation with regional countries and the ASEAN member states and establishes a comprehensive, open, indivisible, transparent, multilateral, equitable security architecture and mutually beneficial cooperation in the region. In the Islamic world direction, Russia seeks to strengthen the comprehensive mutually beneficial cooperation with the member states of the Organisations of Islamic Cooperation, most notably Iran, Syria, Turkey, Arab Saudi, Egypt, and other member states. Regarding the African direction, Russia seeks to work with the African states to establish a more equitable, multipolar world and eliminate socio-economic inequality, which is growing due to neo-colonial policies. As far as the Latin America and the Caribbean are concerned, Russia prioritises establishment and strengthening of multifaceted, mutually benefited cooperation with Brazil, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. In the European direction, Russia intends to consistently defend its national interests by focusing on reducing and neutralising threats to security, territorial integrity, and sovereignty posed by unfriendly states from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the European Union (EU); is ready to cooperate with these nations once they realise that there is no alternative to peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial equal cooperation with Russia. As for the US, Russia considers the US to be one of the influential centres of world development and at the same time the main organiser and executor of the anti-Russian policy of the collective West, the source of major risk to Russia’s security, international peace, and equitable and progressive development of humanity. Moscow, therefore, intends to build relations with Washington depending on the degree of their willingness to abandon their unfriendly course towards Russia to respect its legitimate interests. In the Antarctic direction, Russia is interested in preserving the Antarctica as a demilitarised space of peace, stability, and cooperation; maintaining environmental sustainability; expanding its presence in the region; giving priority to preservation and implementation of the 1959 Antarctic Treaty.

According to international analysists, the new Concept of Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation aims not only to build a powerful, friendly, responsible country of the international community, but also to strive for a new multipolar, multicentre world order based on the UN Charter – a world where nations regardless of their size, strength, and level of development are mutually respected.

Senior Colonel LE THE MAU