Main foreign policy results of 2021

The extension for 5 years of the Russian-US Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (February) was an important result in the effort to maintain strategic stability. As agreed at the Geneva summit in June, Russia and the United States resumed dialogue on these issues.  

To establish legally binding security commitments in the western direction, thereby ruling out NATO’s further eastward expansion and deployment of threatening weapon systems near Russian borders, the United States and other NATO countries in December were presented with a draft treaty between Russia and the US on security guarantees and a draft agreement on measures to ensure the security of Russia and the NATO member states.

The UN General Assembly adopted by consensus the Russian-US resolution “Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security, and advancing responsible state behaviour in the use of information and communications technologies.” Russia initiated the formation of the UN Open-Ended Working Group (OPWG) on Open-ended Working Group on security of and in the use of ICT for 2021-2025.

There was bilateral progress on information security. Russia and the US started consultations on these issues. Intergovernmental agreements were signed with Indonesia, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Nicaragua and Uzbekistan, and Russia-ASEAN dialogue was launched.

The adoption of the Russia-initiated UN General Assembly resolution on not being the first to deploy weapons in space helped to strengthen international security. The Russian draft resolution on transparency and confidence-building measures in space activities was approved. The number of countries supporting the Russian initiative to prevent an arms race in space grew to 30 (in 2021 it was joined by the Republic of the Congo, Seychelles, Sierra Leone and Togo).

Russia played a key role in launching the talks to restore the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran’s nuclear programme without additions and exemptions.

Russia’s participation in efforts to settle conflicts contributed to the maintenance of regional and international security.

Upholding the principled commitment to ensuring that parties to the intra-Ukrainian confrontation carry out the Minsk Package of Measures helped prevent military escalation in Donbass. Signed in November by the President of the Russian Federation, the Executive Order “On providing humanitarian support to the people in specific areas of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Lugansk regions” is designed to provide socioeconomic relief for people in Donbass in view of the Kiev-imposed blockade.

Russia has been proactive in promoting normalisation in the relations between Baku and Yerevan, including delivering on objectives such as to set up a bilateral Armenia-Azerbaijan Border Delimitation and Demarcation Commission, as well as unblocking economic and transport ties in South Caucasus. On December 10, Moscow hosted the constituent meeting of the 3+3 Regional Consultative Platform, which brings together three South Caucasus states – Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia, as well as three neighbouring countries – Russia, Turkey and Iran. So far, Georgia has not participated in this format.

In the wake of the hasty withdrawal by the United States and NATO from Afghanistan and the crumbling of the Ashraf Ghani’s regime in August, Russia established working contacts with the representatives of the new Afghan authorities. On October 20, Moscow hosted the third Moscow format consultations attended by Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, India, and five Central Asian countries. The participants agreed on an initiative to convene an international donor conference on Afghanistan under UN auspices. Russia provided urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan by delivering 100 tonnes of food, medicines and essential goods to Kabul in November and December.

In coordination with their Turkish and Iranian partners, the Russian representatives enabled the Astana format to play a leading role in promoting a settlement in Syria. Moscow supported UN Security Council Resolution 2585, which provides for carrying out early recovery projects for restoring utilities infrastructure, as well as education and healthcare facilities.

Promoting integration projects and cooperation across the Greater Eurasian space has remained a foreign policy priority for Russia.

On November 4, the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Russia and Belarus held a meeting and approved the Guidelines for Implementing the Provisions of the Treaty on the Creation of the Union State in 2021–2023, including 28 sectoral programmes. The participants also approved the updated the Union State’s Military Doctrine and the Migration Policy Concept. The foreign ministry collegiums of Russia and Belarus held a joint meeting in November and signed a Programme of Coordinated Foreign Policy Action in 2022-2023.

The Eurasian Economic Union has further expanded its network of international partners by signing a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Government of Uzbekistan. The agreement establishing a free trade area between the EAEU and Serbia, dated October 25, 2019, has come into force. The EAEU also launched talks with Iran on entering into a permanent and comprehensive free-trade agreement.

Within the Commonwealth of Independent States, which marked its 30th anniversary in 2021, the member countries signed 7 intergovernmental agreements and adopted several joint documents, in particular, the Statement by the CIS Heads of State on Ensuring Biological Safety, and the Joint Statement of Foreign Ministers on Strengthening the Role of International Law.

Together with its allies from the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, Russia approved a list of priority joint actions to ensure security along the CSTO’s southern borders. Held in September, the first meeting of CSTO and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation heads of state focused on coordinating approaches to the Afghan settlement.

 SCO members agreed on measures to improve mechanisms for countering regional challenges and threats. The organisation launched procedures to accept Iran as a member, and grant dialogue partner status to Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Russia’s initiative to establish a Greater Eurasian Partnership (GEP) as a single, broad and inclusive space for security, mutually beneficial economic and humanitarian cooperation for all Eurasian states was supported by the Dushanbe Declaration marking the SCO’s 20th anniversary, the Joint Statement of the Fourth Russia-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit, held in October, and the Joint Statement of the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China on the 20th Anniversary of the Treaty of Good Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation between Russia and China, signed in June.

Russia has been proactive in promoting its relations, as well as trade and investment ties with countries in the Asia-Pacific Region (APR).

The 20th anniversary of the Treaty of Good Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation was the highlight of Russia-China relations. The leaders of the two countries agreed on a five-year extension. Trade with China has been at its highest. The two heads of state took part in launching construction of four energy blocks, developed by Russia, at two Chinese nuclear power stations. A major interstate project, the Year of Russia-China Scientific, Technical and Innovative Cooperation (2020-2021) has been successfully completed with more than 1,000 events held as part of this initiative.

Following a visit by the President of Russia to New Delhi on December 6, the parties adopted a Joint Statement Russia-India: Partnership for Peace, Progress and Prosperity and signed 15 industry-specific documents. The foreign and defence ministers of Russia and India held the first meeting in the 2+2 format. Their naval forces and armies held joint military exercises in July and August, respectively.

Russia and ASEAN adopted a Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA) to Implement Strategic Partnership (2021-2025) and a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Disaster Management. The first ever Russia-ASEAN naval drills held in December were a major event.

Russia’s approaches to ensuring sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific Region were set forth in the policy document, adopted in November by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) for the next 20 years – the Aotearoa Plan of Action for implementing the Putrajaya Vision 2040. During the 16th East Asia Summit, held in October, Russia initiated the adoption of the East Asia Summit Leaders’ Statement on Economic Growth through Tourism.

Russia’s ties with Middle Eastern and African states were mutually beneficial.

The Comprehensive Partnership and Strategic Cooperation agreement between Russia and the Arab Republic of Egypt entered into force in January, and flights resumed between Russia cities and Egyptian resorts in August. Business missions were organised to Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Senegal and the South African Republic. The Russia-Nigeria Chamber of Commerce and Industry opened in Abuja, Nigeria. In 2021, Russia provided assistance to Burundi, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Sudan, the Central African Republic and South Sudan through the UN World Food Programme.

Cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean countries proceeded in a broad range of sectors, from mining and energy to military-technical and research and technological ties. In July, the Russian Government approved a draft agreement with the Central American Integration System (SICA) on Russia’s participation in SICA as observer.

Another significant achievement was the joining of various multilateral associations, which has increased Russia’s access to the instruments of promoting national interests abroad.

The formalisation of Russia’s full membership at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) was completed in April. Russia was granted the status of observer at the Non-Aligned Movement in July and the status of dialogue partner at the Indian Ocean Rim Association in November,. In July, Russia became a co-founder of the Group of Friends in Defence of the Charter of the United Nations established on Venezuela’s initiative.

Russia promoted the drafting of balanced decisions of the G20 summit in October and the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in November.

The 13th BRICS summit, held in September, adopted the New Delhi Declaration of the member states’ commitment to multilateral approaches to current international issues. The BRICS states signed an Agreement on Cooperation on Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation. The credit portfolio of the New Development Bank reached $29.5 billion, and the bank admitted Bangladesh, the UAE and Uruguay as new members.

Russia contributed to the efforts against the Covid-19 pandemic and its consequences. The Sputnik V vaccine has been registered in 71 countries, large batches of Russian vaccines were delivered to foreign countries, and agreements were reached to localise and increase the scale of local manufacturing of Russian medications throughout the world. The Eurasian Development Bank launched the Covid-19 Free Travel app, which all the EAEU countries and the majority of our CIS partners have joined.

Of special significance in the year of the 75th anniversary of the Nuremberg Trials and the 80th anniversary of the start of the Great Patriotic War was the adoption of the Russia-proposed UN General Assembly Resolution on “Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance” in December.

The 7th World Congress of Compatriots Living Abroad, which was held in Moscow in October, reaffirmed our policy towards expanding interaction with Russian and Russian-speaking communities abroad. Young compatriots from Donbass for the first time took part in the annual educational trip Hello, Russia!

To be continued...