«Foreign Policy priorities of the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China in Africa»
Students Name: Ushlov Taras Oleksandrovych
Qualification Level: magister
Speciality: International Relations
Institute: Institute of the Humanities and Social Sciences
Mode of Study: full
Academic Year: 2023-2024 н.р.
Language of Defence: англійська
Abstract: The African continent plays an important strategic role for the international community. The continent is a stage for cooperation and dialogue between international players who jointly develop strategies to ensure stability and peace in the region. One of the key players in the region is Russia and China, each pursuing its own strategic goals. While in the case of the Russian Federation, it is a search for possible circumvention of sanctions and new partners, an emphasis on the military sphere of building relations (based on the principle of hard power), the PRC continues to expand new markets and develop economic relations with the countries of the continent through investment (based on the principle of soft power). The full-scale war in Ukraine has exacerbated this issue, as the loss of potential partners poses a threat to destabilize the international order.In order to counter Russian aggression and attract support from African countries, Ukraine needs to establish stable diplomatic, political and economic relations with African countries as soon as possible.That is why it is important to determine what threats the growing influence of Russia and China on African countries poses and how this will affect the international balance of power and whether two major players on the continent will not take over Ukraine’s niche in this struggle. Study object: foreign policy of the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China in the African region. Scope of research is the peculiarities of formation, dynamics and challenges of implementation of foreign policy priorities of the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China in Africa. The goal of the research is to analyze and highlight the development of relations between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China and African states, which is why the study is aimed at identifying challenges and threats to the international community in the event of expanding the sphere of influence of Russia and China in the region. It has been found that despite the fact that the USSR and China began building relations with African countries at the same time, they had different paths to establishing the current state of relations.In general, the period from 1950 to 1990 can be characterized as one in which the USSR occupied the niche of Western states that were losing their influence in the region and focused on countering the influence of the United States [3].The development of relations between China and African countries went through several stages: the establishment of the "Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence" in 1954; the establishment of the Sino-African People’s Friendship Association in 1960; in the 1970s, China became the "first among equals" in the African region, gaining the status of a permanent member of the UN Security Council in 1971; 1980s; the establishment of new principles of economic and technical cooperation defined a new stage of cooperation that dominated until the end of the century; 1990s: China continued to actively develop cooperation with Africa, defining it as a key vector of strategic and economic interests [4]. When considering and analyzing the current relations between Russia and African countries, it was found that after the collapse of the USSR and until 2008, the state did not show an active interest in resuming cooperation. However, in its Foreign Policy Concepts of 2008, 2013, and 2016, Russia gradually prioritized the African vector.Unlike its competitors in the region, Russia has relied on hard power: supporting authoritarian regimes, providing military assistance to African countries, and increasing its presence through the Wagner PMC [5].In its turn, China, offering its assistance without conditions and additional requirements, presented an attractive alternative to conditional Western aid and gained significant diplomatic support to protect its international interests in the economic niche. Thus, the growth of cooperation with African countries was achieved through the intensification of Chinese diplomacy on the continent and the use of the "soft power" approach [1]. It was also found that despite the fact that China and Russia are considered reliable partners, they pursue their own interests in the African region. There is an overlap of foreign policy interests in Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Since both countries are actively spreading their influence on the African continent, it is possible that in case of conflicts, the partners may turn into competitors [2]. As a result, the African continent is gradually turning into a territory of struggle for influence by many international actors. China and Russia are actively using the change in attention paid by the US and the EU to the wars in Ukraine and Israel to carve out a niche in spreading their influence. The future of the region depends on whether China and Russia can continue to impose their policies on the continent, or whether other external actors will find alternative ways to offer African countries. Key words: Russian Federation, China, African countries, foreign policy interest, influence. References: Uhvu, V. (2020). Stratehiia KNR shchodo krain Afryky. Kyiv: Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Kytai ta Rosiia zakhopliuiut Afryku (2023). Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aest4L6LuNs Charap, S., Cheravitch, J., Hanson, R. (2022). A Geostrategic Assessment. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation. Park, Y. J., Huynh, T. T., Lumumba-Kasongo, T. (2010). China in Africa. Leiden: African Studies Centre. Wesolowski K., Gatanazi E. (7 July, 2023). Fact check: Russia’s influence on Africa. DW News.