RUSSIAN SECURITY POLICY, MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS IN 2019 Military Intelligence Centre
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n international relations, the security policy of Russia continued its revisionist approach, emphasizing the concept of a multipolar world as formulated in 1996 by then Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov. In fact, this concept is an attempt to revise the available and functioning system accepted by the international community, with foreign policy efforts (and also military efforts, if necessary). Through opposition to the West and the gradual dismantling of the international security architecture, Russia aims to increase its role as the ‘third Rome’ in world politics. The Kremlin views this approach as a redressing of ‘historical justice’ by eliminating the ‘unfair’ situation that followed the collapse of the USSR, where a weakened Russia perceived itself as having no say in shaping the new security environment.
Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty) concluded in 1987. On the other hand, Russia has succeeded in regaining membership of the Council of Europe, the negotiations in the so-called Normandy Format to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine have continued after several years of inactivity, and President Vladimir Putin met bilaterally with the leaders of several European countries, which refers both to progress in developing bilateral relations and, more indirectly, to the success of disruption of EU unity. Russia is back in Africa. First and foremost, Russia is interested in African mineral resources it lacks itself or which it needs due to geopolitical considerations (oil and natural gas). Export of arms (Sukhoi and MiG aircraft, Mi-type helicopters, the missile defence systems Pantsir-C1, Kornet-E, Tor-M2E, main battle tanks, armoured vehicles and firearms) continues to play an important role. Already at the beginning of 2019, Rosoboronexport announced that Russian companies involved in military and technical cooperation had several major ongoing projects. From an arms export point of view, 2019 was called “the year of Africa”. It is noteworthy that the Kremlin’s focus of attention is slowly shifting
THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA On one hand, confrontation with the West, especially the US, has continued. Compared to previous years, relations with the US can be characterized as the status quo as there have been no fundamental changes. As an accent, the US has however imposed sanctions against Russia, and withdrew from the Intermediate-Range 7
