The role of energy in Russian foreign policy

Abstract

New energy opportunities provide effective ways to advance energy superpowers’ foreign policy objectives. Oil and natural gas are capable of providing producer states with internal order and external influence and are thus a source of relative power. This research examines how energy shapes Kremlin’s foreign policy with a diachronic selection of the most important developments. It covers the period from 2000 till the present to demonstrate how widely the Russian national security and diplomacy are affected by energy concerns. In this manuscript, energy refers to crude oil, refined products and natural gas.