Russian Foreign Policy Research and analysis regarding all aspects of Russia’s foreign policy. Russia’s foreign policy has in the russian foreign policy years become more assertive than it had been in the first two decades since independence.

The Kremlin surprised many with its 2008 war in Georgia, its 2014 seizure of Crimea and intervention in eastern Ukraine, and its 2015 deployment of forces in the Syrian civil war. First name This field is required. Last name This field is required. Peter the Great officially renamed the Tsardom of Russia the Russian Empire in 1721, and became its first emperor. The Foreign policy of the Russian Empire covers Russian foreign relations down to 1917.

Russia played a small role in the Napoleonic Wars until 1812, when Napoleon’s huge army was destroyed in the French invasion of Russia. Russia played a major role in defeating Napoleon and in setting conservative terms for the restoration of aristocratic Europe during the period of 1815 to 1848. Russia expanded in all directions at 18,000 square miles per year, becoming by far the largest power. China had more people but far less military or economic or diplomatic power. The expansion brought in many minorities who had their own religions and languages.