Russia's part of the global military and political system is inseparably linked to understanding what interests and goals the country persues with its international policy and what tools it employs to provide them. The current global military and political system is majorly affected by two dominant trends. On one hand, it is a desire to establish a new, more just and democratic system of international economic and political relationships. On the other hand, it is an increased occasions of conflict resolution by means of armed force on a national decision basis without UN approval. Along with the aforementioned trends Cold War relics deteriorating international relations still exist.

Under these circumstanses the meaning of armed force as a tool of foreign policy and national interests achievement remains high.

Russia has consistently stood for esteblishment of an international relationship system with its military functions decreased down to minimum serving to armed conflict deterrence only. However, it has to adapt its understanding of military politics and military tools with regard to current global trends mentioned hereto. As Russia possesses up-to-date and effective Armed Forces it is able to get integrated into the world's relationship system without losses.

A tentative growth of national economy, strenghthening of internal political stability and world's position has become one of major factors of the global politics recently. This allows us to think over Russia's foreign policy priorities formulation taking into account new circumstances and nation's real geopolitical demands which are essential for providing favourable conditions to its national developing as one of the world's leading countries.

The new global trends listed below have an extensive impact on the Russian foreign interests proper understanding:

First, the global system of military politics at the time primarily faces an urgent necessity to counter new challenges born by the process of globalization. Among these chellenges are weapons of mass destruction and means of its delivery proliferation, international terrorism, ethnic instability, radical religious groups and unions activity, narcotic trade, organized criminality. The essence of these chellenges makes it impossible to struggle against them within the frontiers of a single state. To this end, international force establishment cooperation, including special mission services and armed forces cooperation, becomes more and more vital.

Second, international non-organization joint military missions are becoming real. Armed force has increasingly been used in the framework of temporary coalitions. This practice will, probably, be expanded with new forthcoming goals and missions. This is a real reflection of a current global military-politics situation. However, Russia calls for a strict adherence of the said coalitions, particularly when they employ an armed force-based cessation of hostilities, to international law provisions and is intended to join these coalitions in case when this is required by its foreign interests only.

Third, foreign policy goals of nations of the world have, to a greater extent at the time, been dominated by their economic interests. Economic growth stands ahead of politics and military politics. Moreover, nation's economic interests and transnational corporation interests conjunction is taking more and more complicated shapes. As a result, it has changed understanding of conditions subject to use of armed force. While a direct military threat to security of a nation or its interests served as the reason for armed force employment earlier it is used as a tool of economic interest assertion now. This makes the field of foreign policy-directed armed force employment much greater then it used to be before.

Fourth, internal and international kinds of terrorism have finally merged together. As this joint body acts like a powerful, well-balanced and devastating force it is senceless to separate internal terrorism from international one. This is applicable for both political counterterror approaches and force methods. It is evident that terrorism has turned from a political threat to a military political one. That's why the armed forces, including the Russian Federation Armed Forces sphere of responsibility has been significantly expanded.

Fifth, the role of non-official participants of international relations in the field of nations' foreign policy determination has increased. Non-govermental organizations, international movements and communities, inter-state organizations and informal 'clubs' cause an extensive, sometimes contradictory, influence on definite countries' foreign policies. Russia seeks an active part in basic inter-state and international organizations to provide its foreign policy and security interests in all spheres.

These trends significantly complement, or sometimes transform, the context of nations' bilateral relationships, as well as inter-state organization cooperation.

The key aspect stipulating Russia's development or defence capability approaches is a comprehensive understanding of how this country is linked to the most important elements of up-to-date international relationship system.

UNITED NATIONS AND UN SECURITY COUNCIL

Russia considers United Nations and UN Security Council as the key element of global stability. We presume that the UN Security Council importance decrease and national decision based armed forces employment is a dangerous trend which could pose a serious threat to Russia's military and political interests in future. This could considerably reduce the significance of political crisis resolution tools and will lead to a more frequent armed force employment.

COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDANT STATES (CIS) AND COLLECTIVE SECURITY TREATY ORGANIZATION (SCTO)

As inter-CIS relations appear one of the most important fields of Russia's foreign policy it will strive for further CIS military policy consolidation in the framework of existing bodies and organizations. Collective Security Treaty determines Russia's military political commitments before its allies. Russia intends to call for Collective Security Treaty Organization transformation into a powerful inter-state organization exercising a salutary influence over CIS and neighboor region situation. Russia considers CSTO member-state security and inviolability of their frontiers as the principal priority of its defence planning.

NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION (NATO)

Russia-NATO relations are regulated by 2001 Rome Declaration. Russia carefully observes NATO transformation process and relies on NATO member-states receding any direct or indirect military plans or political statements impairing Russian interests.

However, in case when NATO maintaines its current offensive doctrine Russian defence planning and Armed Forces developmet strategy will require a profound transformation including nuclear strategy alterations. Russia counts on positive political and economical development of Russia-EU relationships with the view of forming mutually beneficial, just and non-discriminating relations and unconditional recognition of the Russian Federation territorial integrity and respect for its right to combat all manifestations of international terrorism.

Russia seeks to expand political, military-political and economical cooperation towards the USA, as well as to develop further strategic stability partnership and dismantle Cold War heritage, it stands for regional stability efforts and regional weapons of mass destruction non-proliferation. Russia deems anti-terrorism coalition as a component of global stability and new more equitable world order and supports every effort of combatting international terrorism in the framework of this coalition. Russia's principal guidelines for relations with the USA are founded on international law adherence and priority of national interests. Russia proceeds from the position that the consensus could be reached on a respect for international law and mutual respect for national interests basis inspite of some regional issue resolution approach discrepancy.

SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION (SCO)

Shanghai Cooperation Organization plays a very important part in the Central Asia and Far East security and stability. SCO political and military-political capability futher strengthening will form a zone of peace and stability in the South East and Far East directions which will remove a possibility of a large-scale military threat. In case when any nationality full or partial expansion occurs Russia will regard the region as a source of potential ethnic confrontation, frontier disputes and overall military politacal instability.

Thus, a current global political trend analisys reveal that the situation in the world is classed as dynamically changing, full of sophisticated political solutions, facing many of key international establishment evolution. This assigns a new mission: to work out a realistic and complex assessment of threats to the Russian Federation. This assessment will enable to determine the national military policy and defence capability development priorities relevant to Russia's new international status and resources available.