Russia on Friday adopted a new diplomatic doctrine that describes the West as an “existential threat” whose “domination” must be fought.
This doctrine formalizes the deep rift between Russia and Western countries since the offensive against Ukraine began in February 2022, which led to NATO consolidating and expanding, while Moscow, on the other hand, looked to China and India as priority partners.
The 40-page document, which resembles Soviet Cold War doctrine in content and tone, replaces the 2016 version and presents Russia as a defender of the Russian-speaking world.
“Russia intends to give priority attention to eliminating remnants of the dominance of the United States and other hostile states in global affairs,” the document posted on the Kremlin’s website said.
At a meeting of his National Security Council, Russian President Vladimir Putin justified this change on the basis of “major changes in the international scenario”, which oblige Russia to “adjust its strategic planning documents”.
The new doctrine emphasizes “the existential nature of the threats (…) created by the actions of enemy countries” and classifies the United States as the “main provocateur and leader of the orchestra of the anti-Russian line,” the Russian said. together. Foreign Minister Serguei Lavrov.
“Broadly speaking, the West’s policy of weakening Russia by any means amounts to a new kind of hybrid warfare,” he added.
China and India, important partners
The US and its allies have introduced a series of economic sanctions against Russia, which in turn accuses them of waging a parallel war in Ukraine by supplying weapons to Kiev.
Increasingly isolated from the West, Putin’s government has sought to move politically and economically closer to Asia, especially China, which it sees as a priority in this new doctrine.
With this strategy, Moscow emphasizes the importance of “deepening relations and coordination with sovereign global centers of power and amicable developments on the Eurasian continent”.
Putin showed a relationship of complicity with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, at the recent summit in the Russian capital, highlighting the “special nature” of relations between the two countries.
However, the link seems increasingly unbalanced in China’s favor, due to its growing dependence on Russia.
The new doctrine also gives importance to relations with Africa, where Moscow has strengthened its presence, including through the Wagner paramilitary group.
Finally, the document reinforces Russia as a “civilization” bringing together the peoples of the “Russian world”, a concept used by the Kremlin to justify the offensive in Ukraine.
According to the document, it is necessary to “neutralize attempts to impose pseudo-humanistic and neoliberal ideological principles that lead to the loss of traditional spirituality and moral principles”.
Source: DN
