National Security Strategy - 2015
The National Security Strategy of the Russian Federation is a key strategic planning document that establishes the national interests and strategic national priorities of the Russian Federation, and home and foreign policy goals, targets and measures directed at strengthening national security and ensuring the country’s stable long-term development. The first such document was created in 1997, and it has been continually updated to account for new developments.
In the version signed into law on December 31, 2015, Putin proclaimed that Russia was surrounded by enemies who were trying to infringe upon the country using methods ranging from military pressure to the spread of extremist ideas. The 2015 national security strategy outlined the idea that the West is putting permanent pressure on Russia in order to undermine the country’s military, foreign policy, economic, and cultural achievements.
As stated in the 2015 document: “The Russian Federation's implementation of an independent foreign and domestic policy is giving rise to opposition from the United States and its allies, who are seeking to retain their dominance in world affairs. The policy of containing Russia that they are implementing envisions the exertion of political, economic, military, and informational pressure on it.”
Moscow decided to deal with this pressure by Opposing the U.S. and its allies, as well as their armies and intelligence agencies, and persons who are trying to orchestrate “color revolutions” in Russia; and developing the country and increasing its self-reliance.
The new National Security Strategy points out the changes in the implementation of foreign policy, which still occupies an important place due to objective circumstances prevailing in the international arena. The main task is to prevent threats on the part of NATO (USA) and not on the part of “several leading foreign countries”, as was stated in the Strategy 2009. The uncompromising recognition of the views that the military conflict that Russia was dragged into in recent years (primarily the Ukrainian and Syrian crises) were backed by the US was exactly what was not reflected in the Strategy 2009; and this is what radically distinguishes Putin from Medvedev.
In mid-2015, when the Russian President gave an order to draft a new National Security Strategy, he noted: “We know the reasons for the pressure being put on Russia. We follow an independent domestic and foreign policy and our sovereignty is not up for sale. This does not go down well in some quarters, but this is inevitable”2714. In the Strategy itself states: “The fact that the Russian Federation pursues its own independent foreign and domestic policy has provoked opposition from the United States and its allies that seek to maintain their dominance in world affairs”.
The National Security Strategy–2015 states “The implementation of independent foreign and domestic policy by the Russian Federation has provoked opposition from the United States and its allies, seeking to maintain their dominance in world affairs. Their policy of containment of Russia provides for the exertion of political, economic, military and informational pressure on Russia”.
The National Security Strategy–2015 stipulates that “the implementation of the government policy of the Russian Federation in the sphere of national security is carried out through the concerted actions of all the elements of its system under the supervision of the President of the Russian Federation and with the coordinating role of the Security Council of the Russian Federation”. Thus, the President takes on personal responsibility for ensuring the implementation of priority directions of state policy in the sphere of national security, and this is not only a timely step, it also demonstrates Vladimir Putin’s ability to assume the historical role of leader when Russia experiences hard times.
The new Strategy significantly increases the emphasis on the priorities of economic security and quality of life. They now include “improvement of the quality of life of Russian citizens, economic growth, science, technology and education, health, culture”; the list of key threats includes “the risks of misuse of budget funds”; the indicators of national security include “satisfaction of citizens with the degree of protection of their constitutional rights and liberties, personal and property interests”, “life expectancy” and “GDP per capita”.
In general, the main difference between the Strategy 2015 and the Strategy 2009 is that it pays significantly more attention to the internal life in the country. Indeed, its lack of competitiveness due to the "hopeless and initially criminal" model of economic development, which is based on "parasitism on the heritage of ancestors instead of intense scientific, technological and industrial development, is the main issue of national security.
In recent years, it becomes more and more clear that Russia is lagging behind developed countries in terms of economic development. And this threat is no less dangerous than any armed conflict. While the United States and industrial countries of the EU, have hightech digital industrialization that enables the transition to post-oil energy, recycling of resources and energy efficiency of all social production, Russia retains the raw materials export model of the economy.
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