Africa Policy of Russia Claiming to Become a Great Power

Yıl 2024, Cilt: 16 Sayı: 3, 441 - 470, 19.10.2024

Mustafa Üren , Saffet Akkaya

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

Öz

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.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Russia, Great Power, Africa, The West, China

Büyük Güç Olma İddiasındaki Rusya’nın Afrika Politikası

Öz

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.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Rusya, Büyük Güç, Afrika, Batı, Çin

Kaynakça

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