Putin’s Realpolitik: Alliances and Economics in a Post-Unipolar World

President Vladimir Putin’s pre-SCO summit remarks are a masterclass in Realpolitik, outlining a pragmatic strategy for navigating a post-unipolar world through a focus on powerful alliances and national economic interest.
The core of his strategy is the “unprecedented” alliance with China. Recognizing the shifting balance of power, Putin has firmly anchored Russia to the rising economic might of Beijing. This is not a partnership of ideology, but of shared interests in countering US dominance.
His focus is relentlessly on tangible economic benefits: the $100 billion trade surge, the security of energy sales, and the strategic advantage of de-dollarization. These are the material foundations of power that allow Russia to pursue its foreign policy goals despite Western opposition.
His vision for a “fairer, multipolar world” is the ultimate expression of this Realpolitik. It is a world where power is more diffuse, preventing any single nation from imposing its will, like “discriminatory sanctions,” on others. The SCO is simply the most convenient and powerful tool at hand to achieve this pragmatic goal.