Foreign Policy of USSR & Russia: Major determinants and Objectives

Dr Punita Pathak

Introduction

• Lenin- USSR was formed in 7^th Nov 1917 under his leadership.
• Stalin- In 1921, declared the new eco policy & in 1922 became the president of communist party (General Secretary)
• The foreign policy of USSR was highly influenced by his ideology.
• Cold war, cooperation with western countries, geographical sovereignty, military power, policy of becoming world power.
• Iron curtain policy- To protect the USSR from the negative external ideology (Capitalist Ideology)

Georgy Malenkov & Nikita Khrushchev

• Socialism in one country
• De- Stalinization (Political reforms of 1953)
• Sino- Soviet split (1956-66)
• Adopted the liberal policy & focused on peaceful co-existence & competition ( Live & Let Live)
• Focused on the expansion of communication & protest the colonisation & imperialism
• To strengthen UNO , dissolve the Comintern.
• Also worked for the rectification of 1963 PNTBT and hotline agreement between USSR & USA

Leonid Brezhnev - Alexei Kosygin

• Era of stagnation
• Collective leadership
• Period of Détente
• Economic reforms of 1973, 1979
• In 1972, Nixon visited Moscow & in 1973 Brezhnev went to USA.
• Indo- USSR fraternity treaty was signed in 1971
• In 1975, Afghanistan Crisis was a failure of this phase and responsible for the end of Détente period and beginning of New Cold War.

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Next Andropov & Chernenko were for a short period

Mikhail Gorbachev – (1985-1991)

• It was the end of cold war, disarmament, focus on cooperation.
• Glasnost- Openness to add with democratic nations
• Perestroika- Reconstruction of economy
• Democratization
• New Political Thinking
• 500 days program (to overcome the economic crisis)

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Boris Yelstin- (1991-1999)

• After the disintegration of USSR 26 dec 1991, end of eatern European communalism: established a multi party democratic system.
• Dissolved the Warshaw pact- called the soviet army from eastern Europe
• Economic aid to USSR from USA & Western countries.
• Got aid from G-7 too.
• On 10^th May 1995, Clinton visited Moscow and again in 1998.
• Russia became the partner country of NATO

• Russia & Commonwealth of independent nation- 12^th Dec
• Formed on 1991- for mutual cooperation & solve the dispute through negotiation
• Russia & China- In 1992 & 1996 Yelstin went to China,
• In 10^th Nov 1997- Historical boarder treaty was formed which solved the 4300 KM dispute.
• India- In 1993 Yelstin went India & in June 1994 P.V. Narshimha Rao visited Russia. In Dec 1994, Chernomerdin visited India.

Vladimir Putin- (2000-2008)

• Swore to become super power
• Went India in 2000, Stopped external intervention in J & K.
• Reformed UN S. C. to fight against terrorism
• In Nov 2001. Bajpayee visited Moskov & signed the declaration against global terrorism.
• Maintained good relations with Japan & China.
• In Gulf war 2003, didn’t support US

Dmitry Medvedev- (2008-2012)

• In 2009 B. Obama went to Moscow
• In 2009 Manmohan Singh went to Moscow
• In Sep 2009, President Patil went to attend BRIC
• In APEC, Shangai CO Org supported Indian membership.
• NATO bombing on Yugoslavia in 1999,
• President Putin came to India in 2010.
• Signed for Inter-Govt agreement on cooperation in atomic energy

Vladimir Putin- (2012-incumbent)

• Putin again visited on 2014.
• Ukraine crisis in 2014,
• Russia Annexation of Crimea in 2015,
• Russian Military intervention in Syria

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Main Objectives of Russian Foreign policy

1. Ensuring the security of Russia
2. Active participation in International Peace & Security (UNO)
3. Developing equal bilateral & multilateral partnership
4. Strengthening Russian position in the global trade & economic system

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Recent Trends of Russian Foreign Policy