Russia-France: A Strained Political Relationship

Author(s): Marie Mendras
Editor(s): Stephen Aris, Matthias Neumann, Robert Orttung, Jeronim Perovic, Heiko Pleines, Hans-Henning Schröder, Aglaya Snetkov
Series: Russian Analytical Digest (RAD)
Issue: 130
Pages: 2-8
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich; Research Centre for East European Studies, University of Bremen; Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, George Washington University
Publication Year: 2013

While the French government seeks to build an economic relationship with Russia, French society is concerned about growing authoritarianism in the country. Additionally, there are differences in regard to energy, defense policies, EU relations to the Eastern Partnership countries (Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan), and UN resolutions against dictators use of indiscriminate violence, as in Syria. Economic relations are unbalanced, given Russias heavy reliance on exporting hydrocarbons, and there are few signs that the situation will change soon.

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