Published
time: 31 Dec, 2015 23:34Edited time: 31 Dec, 2015 23:41
© Michael
Klimentyev / Sputnik
President
Vladimir Putin has signed the country’s national security strategy for 2016
that names color revolutions and biological weapons as current threats to
Russia, among others hazards. Here are nine key points you want to know about
the document.
1. “Color
Revolutions” and corruption among key threats to Russia’s security
Listed among
threats to national security are“color revolutions” and their
instigation, the undermining of traditional values, and corruption.
Who could be
engaged in such activities? According to the document, “radical social
groups which use nationalist and religious extremist ideologies, foreign and
international NGOs, and also private citizens” who work to undermine
Russia’s territorial integrity and destabilize political processes.
The activities
of foreign intelligence services, terrorist and extremist organizations, and
criminal groups are also classified as threats.
2. US
complicates things with bio weapons threat
The growing
number of countries in possession of nuclear weapons has also increased certain
risks, the decree says. However, the risk of countries gaining possession of
and using chemical weapons, as well as biological weapons, has risen as well,
it elaborates.
“The network
of US biological military labs is expanding on the territories of countries
neighboring Russia,” it said. “Russia’s independent foreign
and domestic policy has been met with counteraction by the US and its allies,
seeking to maintain its dominance in world affairs.”
3. NATO
expansion goes overboard
The North
Atlantic alliance advance towards Russia’s borders is a threat to national
security, according to the document. Processes of militarization and arms build
ups are unfolding in regions neighboring Russia, it says, adding that “the
principles of equal and indivisible security” are not being respected
in the Euro-Atlantic, Eurasian and Asia-Pacific regions.
Nonetheless,
Russia is still interested in a fair dialogue and good relations with NATO, the
US and the EU, the strategy says. Under the partnership, it’s important to
enhance mechanisms “provided by international treaties on arms control,
confidence-building measures, issues related to non-proliferation of weapons of
mass destruction, the expansion of cooperation in the fight against terrorism,
the settlement of regional conflicts,” it says.
4. Ukraine
figures
US and EU
support of the coup in Ukraine has led to a deep split in Ukrainian society and
prompted an armed conflict, the decree stated. The rise of far-right
nationalist ideology and the intentionally created image of Russia as an “enemy”
in Ukraine have made it a “long-term source of instability in Europe
and directly at the Russian border.”
5. No to
nukes?
Russia may be
ready to discuss curbing its nuclear potential, but only based on mutual
agreements and multi-lateral talks, the document states. A curtailment in
Russia’s nuclear potential could only be implemented only if it were also to“contribute
to the creation of appropriate conditions that will enable a reduction of
nuclear weapons, without damaging international security and strategic
stability.”
At the same
time, Russia plans to prevent any military conflicts by maintaining its nuclear
capabilities as a deterent, but would resort to the military option only if all
other non-military options had failed.
6. Info
warfare
Secret
services have become increasingly active in using their capabilities in the
struggle for international influence, the document highlighted.
“An entire
spectrum of political, financial, economic and information instruments has been
brought into struggle for influence in the international arena.”
7. When to use
military force
The strategy
allows the use of military force only in cases when other measures to “protect
the national interests” are ineffective.
8. Money
matters
Russia’s
economic stability is in danger mainly because of its low level of
competitiveness and its resource-dependent economy.
Among other
threats is “a lag in the development of advanced technologies, the
vulnerability of the financial system, the imbalance of the budgetary system,
the economy going offshore, the exhaustion of the raw materials base, the strength
of the shadow economy, conditions leading to corruption and criminal
activities, and uneven development of regions.”
The fact that
Russia is dependent on the external economic environment doesn’t help matters,
the document reads. Economic restrictions, global and regional crises, as well
as the misuse use of the law, among other things, will have a negative impact
on the economy, and in the future could lead to a deficit of mineral, water,
and biological resources.
“The growing
influence of political factors on economic processes, as well as attempts by
individual states to use economic methods, tools of financial, trade,
investment and technology policies to solve their geopolitical problems,
weakens the stability of the system of international economic relations.”
9. What’s next
for the economy?
Understanding
the problems faced by the country’s economy, the Russian government plans to
take measures to deal with them. To ensure economic security, the country will
need to balance its budget, prevent capital outflows, and reduce inflation, the
document states.
“To resist the
hazards to economic security, the government… will carry out a national social
and economic policy involving … strengthening of the financial system, ensuring
its sovereignty and the stability of the national currency”.
Russia also
considers developing relations with China, India, Latin America and Africa as
highly important.
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