13.In the long term, the Russian Federation will seek to construct international relations based on the principles of international law, and on the institution of reliable and equal security of nation-states.
For the defense of its national interests, Russia, while remaining within the boundaries of international law, will implement a rational and pragmatic foreign policy, one that excludes expensive confrontation, including a new arms race.
Russia perceives the United Nations and the Security Council of the United Nations as a central element of a stable system of international relations, at the basis of which lie respect, equal rights, and mutually beneficial cooperation among nations, resting on civilized political instruments for the resolution of global and regional crisis situations.
Russia will increase its interaction with multilateral fora such as the G8, G20, RIC (Russia/India/China), BRIC (Brazil/Russia/India/China), and will likewise capitalize on the potential of other informal international institutions.
The development of bilateral and multilateral cooperation with member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States is a priority direction of Russian foreign policy. Russia will seek to develop the potential for regional and sub regional integration and coordination among member states of the CIS, first of all within the framework of the Commonwealth, and also the CSTO and EvrAzEs, which exert a stabilizing influence on the overall situation in the regions bordering on the CIS.
Moreover, the CSTO is regarded as the main interstate instrument for responding to regional threats and challenges of a military-political or military-strategic nature, including the fight with illegal trafficking in narcotic and psychotropic substances.
14.Russia will promote the strengthening of EvrAzEs as the nucleus of economic integration, and instrument of assistance to the realization of major hydropower, infrastructural, industrial and other joint projects having a primarily regional significance.
15.Of particular significance for Russia will be the reinforcement of the political potential of the SCO, and the stimulation within its framework of practical steps towards the enhancement of mutual trust and partnership in the Central Asian region.
16.The Russian Federation is in favor strengthening the mechanisms of cooperation with the European Union by all possible means, including the continued formation of common spaces in the economic, educational, scientific and cultural spheres, and in terms of internal and external security. The long-term national interests of Russia are served by the creation of an open system of Euro-Atlantic collective security, on a clear legal and treaty basis.
17.A determining aspect of relations with NATO remains the fact that plans to extend the alliance’s military infrastructure to Russia’s borders, and attempts to endow NATO with global functions that go counter to norms of international law, are unacceptable to Russia.
Russia is prepared to develop relations with NATO on the basis of equality and in the interests of strengthening the general security of the Euro-Atlantic region. The content and depth of these relations will be determined by the preparedness of the alliance to recognize Russia’s legal interests when engaging in military-political planning, and to respect norms of international law; and likewise NATO’s readiness to consider the further transformation of these relations and the search for new tasks and functions with a humanitarian orientation.
18.Russia will strive to build an equitable and valuable strategic partnership with the United States of America, on the basis of shared interests and taking into account the key influence of Russian-American relations on the international situation as a whole. In terms of priorities, these will continue to be the achievement of new agreements in the sphere of disarmament and arms control, the reinforcement of confidence building measures, and likewise the resolution of issues surrounding non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the development of antiterrorist cooperation, and the regulation of regional conflicts.
19.In the sphere of international security, Russia will maintain its adherence to the use of political, legal, economic, military and other instruments to defend state sovereignty and national interests.
The execution of a predictable and open foreign policy is inextricably tied to the realization of Russia’s stable development. The successful integration of Russia into the global economic space and the international division of labor is inhibited by the slow pace of transition of the national economy towards an innovation-based development trajectory.
20.For the prevention of threats to national security, it is essential to guarantee social stability, ethnic and denominational harmony, increase the mobilization potential and growth of the national economy, as well as improve the quality of work performed by state bodies and formulate effective mechanisms for their interaction with civil society, in order to realize the right of every Russian citizen to life, security, work, housing, health and a healthy way of life, accessible education, and cultural development.
III. NATIONAL INTERESTS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND STRATEGIC NATIONAL PRIORITIES
21.The national interests of the Russian Federation in the long term consist of the following:
—developing democracy and civil society, and the enhancement of the competitiveness of the national economy;
—ensuring the solidity of the constitutional system, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of the Russian Federation;
—transforming the Russian Federation into a world power, whose activity is directed at supporting the strategic stability and mutually beneficial partner relationships within the multi-polar world.
22.The internal and external sovereign needs of the state with regards to ensuring national security are realized via the strategic national priorities.
23.The main national security priorities of the Russian Federation are national defense and state and social security.
24.In order to ensure national security, the Russian Federation, as well as achieving the basic priorities of national security, concentrates its efforts and resources on the following priorities of stable development:
—increasing the quality of life of Russian citizens by guaranteeing individual security, high standards of living, and economic growth which is achieved first and foremost by developing a national system of innovation and by investing in human capital; science, technology, education, healthcare, and culture, which are developed by reinforcing the role of the state and improving public-private partnership;
—ecology of living systems and rational resource use, supported by balanced consumption, development of progressive technologies, and expedient use of the country’s resources;
—strategic stability and equitable strategic partnership, on the basis of Russia’s active participation in the development of the multi-polar model of the international system.
IV. ENSURING NATIONAL SECURITY
25.The main components of the provision of national security consist of the maintenance of legal and institutional mechanisms, and likewise of the resources of the state and society, at a level corresponding to the national interests of the Russian Federation.
The state of national security of the Russian Federation is directly dependent on the economic potential of the country and the effectiveness of the system of provision of national security.
1. NATIONAL DEFENSE
26.The strategic goals related to improving national defense consist of preventing global and regional wars and conflicts, and likewise of realizing strategic deterrence in the interests of ensuring the country’s military security.