Unusual clarity. Russia is no longer the West

On March 31, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree “On approving the Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation”, which outlines key goals and objectives of national policy in the field of international relations. The Concept for the first time indicates the status of Russia as a “unique country-civilization”; emphasizes the hostility of the anti-Russian policy implemented by the Collective West and its leader, the United States; and names friendly countries that are becoming the main focus of interaction for the Russian Federation in the coming years. The authors of the Concept and many experts note that the firm and resolute wording, in which the guidelines of Russia’s foreign policy are set out, accurately reflects the objective tenseness of the geopolitical situation that has developed in recent years (especially after the start of the SMO). The Russian Federation, in fact, is in the avant-garde of the struggle for a multipolar world and for the independence of all national states fighting to preserve and strengthen their national sovereignty against the hegemony of the United States and its satellites. At the same time, making things clear regarding Russia’s foreign policy guidelines allows the President to further improve domestic policy, bring it in line with the status of Russia as a country-civilization in terms of strengthening the foundations of public administration, achieving full national sovereignty and social justice. The article analyzes the adoption of a new Foreign Policy Concept as the President’s next step in the implementation of the general course of national development that he has been in charge of for the past 23 years. We present the relevant expert assessments and the dynamics of public opinion regarding the activities of the head of state. We also look into objective historical prerequisites that determined the specifics of a new Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation, as well as some key tasks that are coming to the fore in domestic policy after the adoption of the Concept.