Putin Period Russia England Policy Analysis

Before the October Revolution, Russia and Britain all along kept close economic communication. However, because Russia's action of expansion of territory almost broke Britain's equilibria of the European continent, the two countries unavoidably came into conflicts. After the foundation of the Soviet Union, based on its own economic condition, Britain carried through peaceful economic communication with the Soviet government. After World War II, along with the disappearance of common interests, long-time confrontation took the place of the wartime anti-fascism alliance of the Soviet Union, Britain and the United States. In 1991, the disintegration of the Soviet Union weakened Russia's national power seriously. Therefore Yeltson took the foreign policy of leaning to the western camp including Britain. After Putin came into power, the two countries economic communication kept on developing; however the two countries'conflicts in political and diplomatic area were not relaxed. A second-time breaking diplomatic war once again brought Russian-British relations into low tide. Putin also changed Yeltson's foreign policy of being close to the US. The European Union was raised to the most important position of Russia's strategic concern. During this era, the Iraqi War intensified the conflicts between the two countries.Along with the recovery of the Russian economy, on dealing with the relations with Britain, Putin changed Yeltson's feeble attitude. Russia's strategy became active and tough. However, the traditional differences in cultural, religious and value area still inevitably affected the two countries'relationship. Meanwhile, while constituting and implementing foreign policy towards Britain, besides of considering its own national interests and the factors of Britain, Russia also needs to consider some other relative factors. These factors include the US, the EU and NATO. During Putin's presidential tenure, Russia's foreign policy towards Britain can be summarized to be cold in politics and hot in economy. Although this kind of foreign policy could help a lot in promoting economic communication and Russia's international position, it did play a negative role on natural, healthy and further development of Russian-British relations.