Russia corrects course

New foreign policy doctrine: Russia is correcting course. In March 2023, the government approved an updated foreign policy concept. The document, introduced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and discussed at the Security Council, declared that Russia was restructuring its international priorities, focusing not on the previous “geopolitical templates”, but on the “balance of interests and justice” in the global system. This meant a move away from trying to be a “global player” according to the old rules. Russia began to look for allies and partners among countries that are not directly connected with Western blocs, and to strengthen cooperation with Eastern and Asian states. For many international observers, the move was an acknowledgment that the previous diplomatic strategy was outdated - and that Moscow is now reshaping its foreign policy to reflect post-2022 realities. Within the country, such a turn gave the state an opportunity to argue for a reorientation—against external pressure, sanctions, and isolation, but at the same time attempting to maintain its status as a significant force. March 2023 thereby became the month of Russia’s “new policy” on the world stage.