MOSCOW, April 1. /TASS/. Russia’s Foreign Policy Concept invites countries to ally with Moscow, Research Director of the Valdai Discussion Club’s Foundation for Development and Support Fyodor Lukyanov told TASS.
On March 31, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the country’s updated Foreign Policy Concept, which says that Moscow can use its armed forces to prevent and repel attacks on Russia and its allies.
"I think that the concept positions Russia as a self-sufficient country that makes its own decisions and shapes the space around itself. Russia points out in this regard that our allies can rely on us for protection," Lukyanov pointed out.
According to him, the "allies" mentioned in the concept refer to the countries with which Russia has binding security agreements. "In particular, we have such agreements with CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization - TASS) countries. I believe that the provision is about the existing allies but it is also a sort of invitation saying that if you seek security, ally with us and you have security guarantees," the analyst said.
The Foreign Policy Concept is 42 pages long and consists of six sections and 76 paragraphs. It is "a strategic planning document, which provides a systemic vision of the national interests of the Russian Federation in the domain of foreign policy, basic principles, strategic goals, major objectives and priority areas of the Russian foreign policy." The concept "is based on the Constitution of the Russian Federation, generally recognized principles and norms of international law, international treaties of the Russian Federation, federal laws, other statutes and regulations of the Russian Federation governing foreign policy activities of the federal authorities." The document specifies some provisions of Russia’s National Security Strategy and takes into account the basic provisions of other strategic planning documents pertaining to international relations.