The role of the Russian Orthodox Church in the orientation of the Russian foreign policy

Abstract

This article aims to shed light on an important determinant of foreign policy,
which is the religious determinant, which is considered one of the soft power tools
that countries employ in their foreign policies, either to achieve specific interests and
goals or to legitimize their policies towards other regions and countries. Russia is
one of these countries that, since the beginning of the 21st century AD, has tended to
employ the religious dimension in its foreign policy by strengthening the roles of the
Russian Orthodox Church represented by the Patriarchate of Moscow and the whole
of Russia. Russian Orthodoxy is in addition to its relationship with the ruling
authority. As for the third and fourth axes, they are devoted to studying the roles of
the Orthodox Church in regional and global circles and issues that have a direct link
to Russian interests.