Russia Reaffirms its Superpower Status

The Russian Defence Ministry has issued a new defence policy paper which makes it clear that Russia has no intention of accepting the dictate of the United States, nor the attempts by the U.S. to establish permanent military bases in the former Soviet republics. The paper maps out a new policy of pre-emptive military force to protect Russia's political, military and economic interests.

The new Russian defence policy underlines the concern of Russia's leadership over the U.S. invasion of Iraq without UN authorization, the expansion of NATO into Eastern Europe and the Baltic States and the continuing U.S. military presence in the former Soviet republics in Central Asia. "Attempts to dilute the role of the UN Security Council and the growing practice of using armed forces on the basis of national decisions are viewed as a dangerous trend that could create a serious threat to Russia's political and military interests," the paper states. It goes on to warn that Russia "expects the (NATO) alliance to remove all direct and indirect anti-Russian elements from its defence planning and political declarations made by its members."

Explaining the new defence policy, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov stated that, "Russia retains the right to preventive use of military force, including in the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States)". He also warned that Russia could deliver pre-emptive strikes not only if it faces military threats, but also is there is any attempt "to limit Russia's access to regions that are essential for its survival, or those that are important from an economic or financial point of view."

In August, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that nuclear weapons "are, have been and remain the basis of Russia's security" and asserted that Russia "must and will remain a great nuclear power." The new defence policy calls for the replacement of aging land and submarine-based missiles with new strategic missiles, the upgrading of long-range bombers and the development of a new generation of sophisticated missiles capable of defeating the proposed U.S. missile defence system.

Russia is also projecting a new, global role for its armed forces as "the factor in preventing the final collapse of the system of international relations based on international law." "It is the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation that can ensure global stability in the broader sense of this term," the paper says.

This new security doctrine signals the intent of the Russian state to once again don the mantle of an imperialist superpower and to compete with the U.S. for global domination. It is a clear indication that great-power rivalry has not become a thing of the past and that U.S. imperialism is going to face increasing difficulties in its efforts to establish itself as the sole, undisputed master of the world.