Africa Policy of Russia Claiming to Become a Great Power

Year 2024, , 441 - 470, 19.10.2024

Mustafa Üren , Saffet Akkaya

https://doi.org/10.53376/ap.2024.16

Abstract

The goal of being a great power inherited from Peter I has become one of the keystones of Russian foreign policy. Even though regimes in the country change, the ambition of Russian administrations to be a great power has never changed. With Putin coming to power after the Cold War, Russia reoriented to its ideal of being great power after consolidating its power status within the country and in its near abroad. In addition to some conjunctural developments, NATO's expansion to the east has a great impact on this return. In this regard, the effects of Russia's interventions in Georgia and Ukraine as a reaction have still been ongoing. Particularly after the annexation of Crimea in March 2014, Russia's attempts to get rid of Western political and economic sanctions caused Russia to focus on Africa. Finally, the decision to intervene Ukraine on February 24, 2022, accelerated this trend. During this period, that the geopolitical environment in Africa required a balancing power was a great advantage for Russia. After the West (USA and EU), the strengthening of the colonialist perception in the region also for China forms the basis of this advantage. Russia's ability to benefit from this advantage depends on its power, on its the regional strategy, and the effectiveness of the foreign policy tools to be utilized. In this regard, Russia's assistance in solving the political, economic, and security-related issues of the the region will be decisive in the development of its relations on the continent. Being aware of the expectations of others will enable Russia to be on the winning side in the competition with other great powers. Achieving the results she desires in the competition may result in the realization of his dream of being a great power. The purpose of the study within the framework of these general principles is to reveal the harmony between Russia's intention and capacity on this issue and to determine the regional impact it will create.

Keywords

Russia, Great Power, Africa, The West, China

Büyük Güç Olma İddiasındaki Rusya’nın Afrika Politikası

Abstract

I. Petro’dan miras kalan büyük güç olma ideali, Rus dış politikasının esasını oluşturmaktadır. Ülkede rejimler değişse de Rus yönetimlerinin büyük güç olma ideali hiç değişmemektedir. Putin’in işbaşına gelmesiyle Rusya, ülke içinde ve yakın çevresinde gücünü pekiştirdikten sonra büyük güç olma idealine geri dönmüştür. Bu dönüşte, konjonktürel gelişmelerin yanında NATO’nun doğuya genişlemesinin etkisi büyüktür. Rusya’nın tepki olarak Gürcistan ve Ukrayna’ya müdahalelerinin etkileri devam etmektedir. Özellikle Mart 2014’te Kırım’ı ilhakının ardından Batı’nın siyasi ve ekonomik yaptırımlarından kurtulmak amacıyla başlattığı girişimleri, Rusya’nın Afrika’ya yönelişiyle sonuçlanmıştır. Son olarak 24 Şubat 2022’de Ukrayna’yı müdahale kararının bu yönelişi hızlandırdığı söylenebilir. Bu dönemde Afrika’daki jeopolitik ortamın dengeleyici bir güce ihtiyaç duyması, Rusya’ya avantaj sağlamıştır. Batı’dan (ABD ve AB) sonra Çin için de bölgede sömürgeci algısının güçlenmeye başlamasıyla, Rusya’nın bu avantajdan yararlanması, gücüne, bölgede takip edeceği stratejiye ve dış politika vasıtalarının etkinliğine bağlıdır. Rusya’nın bölge ülkelerinin siyasi, ekonomik ve güvenlik sorunlarının çözümüne yardımcı olması, kıtadaki ilişkilerinin gelişmesinde belirleyici olacaktır. Bu yöndeki beklentileri bilerek hareket etmesi, diğer büyük güçlerle rekabetinde kazanan tarafta olmasını sağlayacaktır. Rekabette istediği sonuçları elde etmesi ise, büyük güç hayalinin gerçekleşmesiyle sonuçlanabilecektir. Bu genel esaslar çerçevesinde çalışmanın amacı, Rusya’nın bu konudaki niyetiyle kapasitesi arasındaki uyumun ortaya konulması ve bölgede yaratacağı etkinin belirlenmesidir.

Keywords

Rusya, Büyük Güç, Afrika, Batı, Çin

References

• Abramova, Irina (2023), “Russia Needs to Show More Courage in Africa”, Russia–Africa: for Peace, Security and Development (Moscow: Publication of National Review): 8-11.
• Abramova, Irina O. ve Leonid L. Fituni (2022), “Ways to Increase the Efficiency of Russia’s African Strategy under the Crisis of the Existing World Order”, Herald of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 92 (5): 569-579.
• Aktaş, Hayati ve Cihan Daban (2019), “Soğuk Savaş Sonrası Dönemde Rusya Federasyonu'nun Afrika Politikası”, Turan Stratejik Araştırmalar Merkezi, 11 (42): 132-142.
• Arkhangelskaya, Alexandra ve Vladimir Shubin (2013), Russia's Africa Policy (Johannesburg: South African Institute of International Affairs).
• Arslan, İbrahim ve Soner Karagül (2014), “Afrika'da Barış ve Güvenliğin İnşasında Kıtasal Yaklaşım: Afrika Barış ve Güvenlik Mimarisi”, Güvenlik Stratejileri Dergisi, 10 (19): 57-98.
• Arslan, İbrahim (2018), “Bir Ülke-Bir Kıta İlişkileri: Çin-Afrika Örneği”, Yönetim Bilimleri Dergisi, 16 (31): 125-142.
• Balytnikov, Vadim, Oleg Barabanov, Andrei Yemelyanov, Dmitry Poletaev, Igor Sid ve Natalia Zaiser (2019), Russia’s Return to Africa: Strategy and Prospects (Novgorod/Russia: Valdai Discussion Club Report).
• Bartosiewicz, Miłosz (2023), Controlled Chaos: Russia’s Africa Policy (Warsaw: Centre for Eastern Studies).
• Bassou, Abdelhak (2017), Africa’s Natural Resources and Geopolitical Realities (Rabat: Publication of OCP Policy Center).
• Benjamin, Jesse (2011), “Decolonizing Nationalism: Reading Nkrumah and Nyerere’s Pan-African Epistemology”, Journal of Emerging Knowledge on Emerging Markets, 3 (1): 14.
• Blank, Stephen (2020), “Russia’s Africa Policy Who Benefits, How and Why”, Courting Africa: Asian Powers and the New Scramble for the Continent, http://www.zambakari.org/special-issue-summer-2020.html (24.06.2024).
• Bonnier, Evelina and Jakob Hedenskog (2020), The United States and Russia in Africa (Stockholm: Publication of Swedish Defence Research Agency -FOI).
• Borshchevskaya, Anna (2019), “Russian Activities in Africa”, Peterson, Nicole (Der.), Russian Strategic Intentions (Boston: Publication of the NSI Inc.): 62-68.
• Boztaş, Asena (2014), “Avrupa-ABD-Rusya ve Çin Kıskacında 21. Yüzyıl Afrika Sömürgeciliği”, 21. Yüzyılda Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 6: 155-170.
• Bowen, Andrew S. (2023), Wagner Group Mutiny in Russia (Washington/US: Insight Published by the Congressional Research Service).
• Bryjka, Filip (2024), “Prigozhin's Mutiny-Causes, Course and Consequences of the Wagner Group Rebellion”, Przegląd Bezpieczeństwa Wewnętrznego, 30: 269-304.
• Chegraoui, Khalid, Rida Lyammouri ve Maha Skah (2020), Emerging Powers in Africa: Key Drivers, Differing Interests and Future Perspectives (Rabat: Policy Center for the New South).
• Cherif, Youssef (2019), “The Interests of Putin’s Russia in the MENA Region in Historical Perspective”, Talbot, Valeria ve Chiara Lovotti (Der.), The Role of Russia in the Middle East and North Africa Region. Strategy or Opportunism? (Barcelona: European Institute of the Mediterranean): 12-25.
• Chkoniya, Lora, Gabriel Kotchofa ve Dmitry Ezhov (2019), “Section I. Africa’s Competences. What Can Africa Offer Russia and the World?”, Bogdasarova, Tatiana ve Lora Chkoniya (Der.), Africa-Russia+: Achievements, Problems, Prospects (Moscow: Russian International Affairs Council).
• Cohen, Raphael S., Elina Treyger, Irina A. Chindea, Christian Curriden, Kristen Gunness, Khrystyna Holynska, Marta Kepe, Kurt Klein, Ashley L. Rhoades ve Nathan Vest (2023), Great-Power Competition and Conflict in the 21st Century Outside the Indo-Pacific and Europe (Santo Monica: RAND Corporation).
• Çalışkan, Göktuğ (2023), “Afrika’da Rus Etkisinin Artmasında Sosyal Medya”, Türk Sosyal Bilimler Araştırmaları Dergisi, 8 (1): 47-57.
• Çalışkan, Göktuğ (2024), “Russia's Changing Africa Policy and ‘Africa Corps’”, https://www.ankasam.org/anka-analizler/russias-changing-africa-policy-and-africa-corps/?lang=en (10.08.2024).
• Çınar, Huriye Y. (2022), “Afrika’da Rusya-Fransa Rekabeti ve Ukrayna Savaşı”, https://tasam.org/tr-TR/Icerik/70082/afrikada_rusya-fransa_rekabeti_ve_ukrayna_savasi (10.08.2024).
• Çınar, Huriye Y. (2023), “ECOWAS vs. AES: Batı Afrika’da Neokolonyal Rekabetin Son Hali”, https://dunyasiyaseti.com/icerik/ecowas-vs--aes-bati-afrikada-neokolonyal-rekabetin-son-hali.html (10.08.2024).
• Daly, Sarah A. (2019), Russia’s Influence in Africa, A Security Perspective (Washington: Publication of the Atlantic Council).
• Degterev, Denis ve Claire Amuhaya (2023), “The Diversity of African Regionalism”, Russia–Africa: For Peace, Security and Development (Moscow: National Review): 30-33.
• Doğan, Soner ve Alaeddin Yalçınkaya (2023), “Rusya’nın Orta Doğu Politikası: Putin Dönemi”, Asia Minor Studies, 11 (2): 206-220.
• Droin, Mathieu and Tina Dolbaia (2023), Russia Is Still Progressing in Africa: What’s the Limit? (Washington: Center for Strategic and International Studies).
• Faulkner, Christopher (2022), “Undermining Democracy and Exploiting Clients: The Wagner Group’s Nefarious Activities in Africa”, CTC Sentinel, 15 (6): 28-37.
• Fidan, Hakan ve Bülent Aras (2010), “The Return of Russia-Africa Relations”, Bilig, 52: 47-68.
• Fituni, Leonid L. (2023), “Role of African Summits of the Summer 2023 Bulding A New World Order”, Journal for the Instiıtute of African Studies, 3 (64): 5-13. (Published in Russian)
• Giles, Keir (2013), Russian Interests in Sub-Saharan Africa (Carlisle: U.S. Army War College Press).
• Grissom, Adam R., Charap Samuel, Joe Cheravitch, Russell Hanson, Dara Massicot, Christopher A. Mouton ve Jordan R. Reimer (2022), Russia's Growing Presence in Africa (Santo Monica: RAND Corporation).
• Grygiel, Jakub J. (2006), Great Powers and Geopolitical Change (Baltimore/US: Publication of the Johns Hopkins University Press).
• Hedenskog, Jakob (2019), “Stepping Up its Military Cooperation in Africa”, Gasinska, Karolina (Der.), Foreign Military Bases and Installations in Africa (Stockholm: Swedish Defence Research Agency): 34-37.
• Houdaigui, Rachid El (2023), Atlantic Africa: United States, Europe, China, Russia (Lizbon: Atlantic Centre): 147-158.
• Issaev, Leonid M., Alisa R. Shishkina ve Yakov B. Liokumovich (2023), “Russian Policy of Securitization in Africa: Features of Perception”, Vestnik RUDN International Relations, 23 (2): 322-338. (Published in Russian)
• Kalika, Arnaud (2019), Russia’s “Great Return” to Africa? (Paris: Institut Français des Relations Internationales).
• Karaganov, Sergei A., Andrey A. Maslov, Vsevolod Yu. Sviridov, Dmitry V. Suslov, Stanislav V. Mezentsev ve Vadim Yu. Zaitsev (2021), Africa: Development Prospects and Recommendations for Russia’s Policy (Moscow: National Researche University Higher School of Economics).
• Karr, Liam (2024), “Africa File Special Edition: Russia’s Africa Corps Arrives in Niger. What’s Next?”, https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/africa-file-special-edition-russia%E2%80%99s-africa-corps-arrives-niger-what%E2%80%99s-next (10.08.2024).
• Kharitonova, Elena (2019), “Section II. Russia–Africa Relations. Russia’s Competences for Africa”, Bogdasarova, Tatiana ve Lora Chkoniya (Der.), Africa-Russia+: Achievements, Problems, Prospects (Moscow: Russian International Affairs Council).
• Kortunov, Andrey ve Nataliya Zaiser (2019), “Introduction”, Bogdasarova, Tatiana and Lora Chkoniya (Der.), Africa-Russia+: Achievements, Problems, Prospects (Moscow: Russian International Affairs Council).
• Lamoreaux, Jeremy W. (2019), “The Three Motivations for an Assertive Russian Grand Strategy”, Peterson, Nicole (Der.), Russian Strategic Intentions (Boston: NSI Inc): 1-6.
• Lanfranchi, Guido ve Kars de Bruijne (2022), The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming? (The Hague: Netherlands Institute of International Relations).
• Lindén, Karolina (2023), Russia's Relations with Africa (Stockholm: Swedish Defence Research Agency).
• Marten, Kimberly (2019), “Russia’s Back in Africa: Is the Cold War Returning?”, The Washington Quarterly, 42 (4): 155-170.
• Maru, Mehari T. (2023), Beyond the ‘Race to the Bottom’ (Brugge: United Nations University).
• MFA – Ministry of Forreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (2023), “The Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation”, https://mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/fundamental_documents/1860586 (14.03.2024).
• Mishra, Abhishek (2023), Russia’s Low-Risk, High-Reward Strategy for its Return to Africa (New Delhi: Observer Research Foundation).
• Nia, Oliver T. (2020), “Russia building Military Bases in Africa: Report”, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/russia-building-military-bases-in-africa-report-/1931550 (23.02.2024).
• Ozerov, Oleg (2023), “Cooperation will Expand and Gain Momentum”, Russia–Africa: For Peace, Security and Development (Moscow: National Review): 4-7.
• Özer, Adem (2023), “Güneş Işığında Gölgeler: (Rusya’nın) Wagner Grubu’nun Afrika’daki Eylemleri Bakımından İsnat Edilebilirliğin Değerlendirilmesi”, İmgelem, 7 (12): 127-146.
• Özkan, Vildane (2023), “Afrika’yla İlişkilerinde Rusya’nın İşlemselleştirdiği Rus Kültür Alanları”, Anemon Muş Alparslan Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 11 (Afrika): 59-75.
• Peterson, Nicole (2019), “Executive Summary”, Peterson, Nicole (Der.), Russian Strategic Intentions (Boston: NSI Inc): v-vi.
• Petro, Nicolai N. (2018), “Russian Orthodox Church”, Tsygankov, Andrei P. (Der.), Routledge Handbook of Russian Foreign Policy (New York: Routledge): 217-232.
• Putin, Vladimir (2023), “Russia and Africa: Joining Efforts for Peace, Progress and A Successful Future”, http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/71719 (05.03.2024).
• Russell, Martin ve Eric Pichon (2019), Russia in Africa: A New Arena for Geopolitical Competition (Brussels: European Parliamentary Research Service).
• Saltanov, Alexander (2023), “To Succeed, You Need Interesting Projects and Personal Contacts”, Russia–Africa: For Peace, Security and Development (Moscow: National Review): 17-19.
• Sergunin, Alexander ve Leonid Karabeshkin (2015), “Understanding Russia's Soft Power Strategy”, Politics, 35 (3-4): 347-363.
• Sidiropoulos, Elizabeth ve Chris Alden (2019), Inside the Russia-Africa matryoshka: Summitry, Geopolitics and Resources (Johannesburg: South African Institute of International Affairs).
• Siegle, Joseph (2021a), “Russia and Africa: Expanding Influence and Instability”, Herd, Gaeme P. (Der.), Russia’s Global Reach: A Security and Statecraft Assessment (Garmisch-Partenkirchen: George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies): 80-90.
• Siegle, Joseph (2021b), Russia in Africa: Undermining Democracy through Elite Capture (Washington: Africa Center for Strategic Studies).
• Siegle, Joseph (2023), Decoding Russia’s Economic Engagements in Africa (Washington: Africa Center for Strategic Studies).
• Stronski, Paul (2019), Late to the Party: Russia’s Return to Africa (Carlisle: Carnegie).
• Trenin, Dimitri (2018), What is Russia up to in the Middle East? (Cambridge: Polity Press).
• Usman, Zainab ve Xiaoyang, Tang (2024), How Is China’s Economic Transition Affecting Its Relations With Africa? (Washington: Carnegie).
• Voronkov, Alexander (2023), “A New Nuclear Power Plant will Provide Egypt with Clean Energy”, Russia–Africa: For Peace, Security and Development (Moscow: National Review): 14-16.