British-Russian Relations at the Present Stage (2000–2020)

1666
DOI: 10.20542/0131-2227-2020-64-4-26-36
I. Kovalev (ikovalev@hse.ru),
National Research University Higher School of Economics, 20, Myasnitskaya Str., Moscow, 101000, Russian Federation

Abstract. The article is devoted to the study of a vast, complex set of problems in relations between the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation at the present historical stage of formation and development of a new multipolar system of international relations. Russian researchers have recently increasingly preferred to respond exclusively to current events in bilateral contacts important for media. In the present work, priority is given to the consideration of relations between Moscow and London in the context of their constant evolution and development dynamics since the beginning of the 21st century. The author traces the influence of the previous long historical experience of bilateral relations on their present-day condition in the rapidly changing modern realities. The impact of trade and economic, investment, cultural and scientific cooperation on the sphere of political interaction between the two countries is analyzed. The reasons that influenced the normalization of British-Russian relations in the late 20th – early 21st century, as well as factors that led to a change of the positive trend of development to negative in 2004–2007 are determined. The role of other key players in today’s system of international relations, primarily that of the United States and the European Union, in the formation and implementation of both Britain’s foreign policy strategy in general and its approaches to the development of interaction with Russia in particular, is assessed. In this article, it is fundamentally important to identify the cause-and-effect relationships between domestic political problems of the United Kingdom and decisions taken by the government in the field of inter-state relations. The apparent failure of the British ruling elite to conclude an acceptable exit agreement with the European Union has caused the need to divert the attention of the opposition and voters of the United Kingdom from Brexit problems to an external threat represented by Russia. The author investigates the complex of reasons that forced the conservative Cabinet of Theresa May to abandon the previous strategy of “business as usual” and move to the use of measures which seriously limit the interaction between London and Moscow in the investment, industrial and trade spheres. Not only new global challenges and threats (international terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, religious extremism, cross-border crime, cyberattacks, etc.), but also a dynamic change in the overall political landscape, emergence of new centers of power, failure of the unipolar system of international relations concept, serious transformations of the domestic political situation in the UK became the determining factors of interaction between the United Kingdom and Russia in the 21st century. 

Keywords: Great Britain, Russia, bilateral relations, foreign policy, Putin, Theresa May, Litvinenko, referendum, Brexit, the Skripal case


REFERENCES

  1. Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation (Approved by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on 30 November 2016) (In Russ.) Available at: http://www.mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/-/asset_publisher/cKNonkJE02Bw/content/id/2542248 (accessed 13.03.2019).
  2. Tony Blair – 1998 Speech on Foreign Affairs. UKPOL, 07.09.2015. Available at: http://www.ukpol.co.uk/tony-blair-1998-speech-on-foreign-affairs/ (accessed 02.03.2019).
  3. Kapitonova N.K. Otnosheniya s Sovetskim Soyuzom i Rossiei [Relations with Soviet Union and Russia]. Velikobritaniya: epokha peremen [Great Britain: The Era of Change]. Gromyko Al.A., ed. Moscow, Izdatel’stvo “Ves’ mir”, 2007, pp. 410-414.
  4. Watson R. Putin’s Speech: Back to Cold War? BBC News, 10.02.2007. Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6350847.stm (accessed 11.03.2019).
  5. Russia expels four embassy staff. BBC News, 19.07.2007. Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6906481.stm (accessed 12.03.2019).
  6. Parliamentary Debates. House of Commons. Great Britain. 16 July 2007, vol. 463. Available at: https://hansard.parliament.uk/search/Debates?house=commons (accessed 17.03.2019).
  7. Cameron’s Visit to Russia: Focus on Economic Cooperation. RIA Novosti, 12.09.2011 (In Russ.) Available at: https://ria.ru/20110912/436092812.html (accessed 15.03.2019).
  8. Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The Strategic Defence and Security Review. London, 2010. 76 p. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/62482/strategic-defence-security-review.pdf (accessed 15.03.2019).
  9. Austin G., Bergne P. Evaluation of the Conflict Prevention Pools: Russia and the former Soviet Union. London, 2004. 69 p. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/67936/ev647russia.pdf (accessed 15.03.2019).
  10. National Security Strategy and Strategy Defence and Security Review 2015. A Secure and Prosperous United Kingdom. London, 2015. 94 p. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/555046/52309_Cm_9161_NSS_SD.pdf (accessed 15.03.2019).
  11. The Litvinenko Inquiry. Report into the death of Alexander Litvinenko. London, 2016. 328 p. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-litvinenko-inquiry-report-into-the-death-of-alexander-litvinenko (accessed 15.03.2019).
  12. Peskov: Russia Expected to Cooperate with London in the Litvinenko Case. RIA Novosti, 21.01.2016 (In Russ.) Available at: https://ria.ru/20160121/1362930613.html (accessed 17.03.2019).
  13. Parliamentary Debates. House of Commons. Great Britain. 21 January 2016, vol. 604. Available at: https://hansard.parliament.uk/search/Debates?house=commons (accessed 17.03.2019).
  14. Parliamentary Debates. House of Commons. Great Britain. 2 December 2015, vol. 603. Available at: https://hansard.parliament.uk/search/Debates?house=commons (accessed 17.03.2019).
  15. Russian Foreign and Security Policy. Available at: https://russiaeu.ru/en/russian-foreign-policy (accessed 17.03.2019).
  16. Russia: Implications for UK Defence and Security. House of Commons Defence Committee. 28 June 2016. Available at: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmdfence/107/107.pdf (accessed 17.03.2019).
  17. Trade and Investment Statistics Summary Sheet. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/792170/Trade_and_Investment_Core_Statistics_Book_4April2019.pdf (accessed 20.08.2019).
  18. Khesin E.S. Rossiisko-britanskie delovye otnosheniya: pod”em i okhlazhdenie [Russian-British Business Relations: Rise and Cooling]. Contemporary Europe, 2017, no. 1, pp. 72-83.
  19. Foreign Secretary Speech on Alternatives to EU Membership, Delivered at Chatham House. 2 March 2016. Gov. UK, 02.03.2016. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/alternatives-to-eu-membership (accessed 20.03.2019).
  20. Statement by the Russian Embassy in London on the Line of the British Government to Involve Russia in the Debate on the UK’s Membership in the European Union (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.rus.rusemb.org.uk/fnapr/4787 (accessed 21.03.2019).
  21. Labour MP Claims it’s ‘Highly Probable’ Russia Interfered with Brexit Referendum. Independent, 13.12.2016. Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/russian-interference-brexit-highly-probable-referendum-hacking-putin-a7472706.html (accessed 20.03.2019).
  22. Russia Used Twitter Bots and Trolls ‘to Disrupt’ Brexit Vote. The Times, 15.11.2017. Available at: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/russia-used-web-posts-to-disrupt-brexit-vote-h9nv5zg6c (accessed 22.03.2019).
  23. Facebook: No New Evidence of Russian Meddling in Brexit Vote. BBC News, 11.06.2018. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics‑43229969 (accessed 22.03.2019).
  24. PM Call with President Putin: 9 August 2016. Gov. UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-call-with-president-putin-9-august-2016 (accessed 17.03.2019).
  25. Putin Hopes that Relations between Russia and Britain will Reach a Higher Level. RIA Novosti, 04.09.2016. (In Russ.) Available at: https://ria.ru/20160904/1476028489.html (accessed 17.03.2019).
  26. Beyond Brexit: a Global Britain. Gov. UK, 02.12.2016. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/beyond-brexit-a-global-britain (accessed 23.03.2019).
  27. Theresa May Uses Major Speech to Warn Donald Trump – “Beware of Vladimir Putin”. Independent, 26.01.2017. Available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/theresa-may-donaldtrump-beware-vladimir-putin-failed-policies-a7548381.html (accessed 22.03.2019).
  28. PM Commons Statement on Future of Trident: 18 July 2016. Gov. UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-commons-statement-on-future-of-trident‑18-july‑2016 (accessed 23.03.2019).
  29. Trade and Investment Statistics Summary Sheet. Department for International Trade. 04.04.2019. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/792170/Trade_and_Investment_Core_Statistics_Book_4April2019.pdf (accessed 20.08.2019).
  30. Russia’s En+ Group lists on London Stock Exchange. London Stock Exchange Group. 03.11.2017. Available at: https://www.lseg.com/resources/media-centre/press-releases/russia%E2%80%99s-en-group-lists-london-stock-exchange (accessed 20.03.2019).
  31. House of Commons. Foreign Affairs Committee.The United Kingdom’s relations with Russia. Seventh Report of Session 2016–2017. Available at: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmfaff/120/120.pdf (accessed 24.03.2019).
  32. Jeremy Corbyn’s Chatham House Speech, Full Text. The Spectator, 12.05.2017. Available at: https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2017/05/jeremy-corbyns-chatham-house-speech-full-text/ (accessed 20.03.2019).
  33. For the Many Not the Few. The Labour Party Manifesto. London, Labour Party, 2017. 125 p.
  34. PM Speech to the Lord Mayor’s Banquet 2017. Gov. UK, 13.11.2017. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-to-the-lord-mayors-banquet‑2017 (accessed 23.03.2019).
  35. Joint Report from the Negotiators of the European Union and the United Kingdom Government. European Commission, December 8, 2017. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/joint_report.pdf (accessed 23.03.2019).
  36. Russian-British Bilateral Relations (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.rus.rusemb.org.uk/ruuk (accessed 24.03.2019).
  37. Parliamentary Debates. House of Commons. Great Britain. 12 March 2018, vol. 637, col. 620-621. Available at: https://hansard.parliament.uk/search/Debates?house=commons (accessed 17.03.2019).
  38. Circular 003/2018: Unexplained Wealth Orders. Gov. UK, 01.02.2018. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/circular‑0032018-criminal-finances-act-unexplained-wealth-orders/circular‑0032018-unexplained-wealth-orders (accessed 17.03.2019).
  39. Abramovich: What’s an Investor Visa? BBC News, 21.05.2018. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-44197798 (accessed 24.03.2019).
  40. Moscow’s Gold: Russian Corruption in the UK. Available at: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmfaff/932/93204.htm (accessed 24.03.2019).
  41. Britain’s Cyber Security Bolstered by World-class Strategy. Gov. UK, 01.11.2016. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/britains-cyber-security-bolstered-by-world-class-strategy (accessed 25.03.2019).
  42. In Helsinki, the Center Began to Work on Countering the Threats of Hybrid War. Inosmi.Ru, 07.09.2017 (In Russ.) Available at: https://inosmi.ru/politic/20170907/240228547.html (accessed 21.03.2019).
  43. Kremlin Threatens to Expel All UK Media if Britain Shuts Down Russian Broadcaster. Independent, 13.03.2018. Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-skripal-uk-media-kremlin-reaction-putin-foreign-ministry-latest-britain-a8254246.html (accessed 23.03.2019).
  44. Statement from the British Council on Russia. Available at: https://www.britishcouncil.org/contact/press/statement-british-council-russia (accessed 24.03.2019).
  45. Putin: Russian- British Relations Have Reached an Impasse. Parlamentskaya gazeta, 20.12.2018. (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.pnp.ru/politics/putin-rossiysko-britanskie-otnosheniya-zashli-v-tupik.html (accessed 25.03.2019).

Registered in System SCIENCE INDEX

For citation:
Kovalev I. British-Russian Relations at the Present Stage (2000–2020). World Eñonomy and International Relations, 2020, vol. 64, no. 4, pp. 26-36. https://doi.org/10.20542/0131-2227-2020-64-4-26-36



Comments (0)

No comments

Add comment







Indexed

 

 

 

 

Dear authors! Please note that in the VAK List of peer-reviewed scientific journals, in which the main scientific results of dissertations for the degree of candidate and doctor of sciences should be published for the “MEMO Journal” the following specialties are recorded:
economic sciences:
5.2.5. World Economy.
5.2.1. Economic Theory
5.2.3. Regional and Branch Economics
political sciences:
5.5.4. International Relations
5.5.1. History and Theory of Politics
5.5.2. Political Institutions, Processes, Technologies

 

Current Issue
2024, vol. 68, No. 3
Topical Themes of the Issue:
  • Bretton Woods 2.0: Towards a New Global Financial Architecture
  • Transformation of the EU Political Party System on the Eve of the 2024 European Election
  • South Asia in Regional and World Politics
Submit an Article
INVITATION FOR PUBLICATION
The Editorial Board invites authors to write analytical articles on the following topics:
  • changes in the processes of globalization in modern conditions
  • formation of the new world order
  • shifts in civilization at the stage of transition to a digital society

The editors are also interested in publishing synthesis articles / scientific reviews revealing the main trends in the development of certain regions of the world - Latin America, Africa, South Asia, etc.