Russian Foreign Policy Approach from 1991 to 2011

Prime Minister of Great Britain Winston Churchill said in 1939 that "I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma". Some of the Iranian political elites consider Russia as an un-reliable ally for Iran whichlargelyoverlapsthatofChurchillspokeinPersian culture. Since the dissolu7on of Soviet Union in 1990s and the rise of Russia, Moscow has been experiencing three foreign policy orientations: “cooperative approach to the West”, “integrated approach to the West” and “look east policy”. Indeed, NATO’s military intervention in the formerYugoslav and ignoring the interests of Russia lead this country with a new compe77on in its foreign policy against the Western countries in 1999. This article deals with the Russian foreign policy outlooks to win the West’s legitimization as the second great power in the world. Western Countries particularly united States are not interested in recognizing Russia as the world’s second great power.