Peculiarities of the implementation of Russia’s foreign policy toward the ALBA countries

Abstract

Introduction. In recent years, Russia’s foreign policy has shown a growing interest in strengthening relations with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), particularly with the members of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA). This process is driven by ideological and geopolitical motives, reflecting Moscow’s aspiration to promote a multipolar world order. The purpose of this study is to identify and systematize the key factors shaping Russia’s policy toward the ALBA countries and to analyze their role in implementing Russia’s foreign policy priorities in Latin America. Methods. The research is based on systemic and comparative-historical approaches, as well as methods of political and content analysis of official documents, public statements, and expert assessments. Results. The study revealed that Russia’s policy toward the ALBA countries is determined by a combination of ideological, geopolitical, economic, and military-strategic factors. At the ideological level, there is a tendency toward symbolic and rhetorical rapprochement based on a shared critique of the unipolar world order and a commitment to anti-imperialist discourse. In the geopolitical dimension, cooperation with the ALBA countries serves as a tool for counterbalancing U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere and contributes to strengthening Russia’s international status as an independent power center. Multilateral cooperation plays a significant role, providing Russia with diplomatic support in international organizations and reinforcing «Global South» coalitions. The economic dimension of the policy is reflected in efforts to diversify markets, develop energy and infrastructure cooperation, and expand export capacities. Finally, military-technical cooperation strengthens the strategic nature of relations and joint defense initiatives, thereby enhancing the institutional resilience of bilateral relations. Conclusions. The interaction between the Russian Federation and the ALBA countries is multilevel, predominantly political and economic in nature and reflects Russia’s aspiration to consolidate its presence in Latin America as one of the centers of global politics. The partnership is based on energy, infrastructure, and technological projects, as well as shared foreign policy principles opposing hegemonic models of international relations. However, this partnership remains asymmetric and is affected by internal instability within regional states, U.S. pressure, and intensifying competition from China. The sustainability of Russia’s position in the LAC region depends on its capacity to elaborate a flexible strategy that combines political and economic instruments, ensuring the potential for further strengthening of the partnership.