Russia's Investment diplomacy

Russia's new international policy puts priority on bilateral relations. By 2020, Russia wants to increase the amount of GDP used for international aid from 0.03% to 0.1%. Putin's method behind this is to defend and promote Russia's national interest by focusing on bilateral cooperation. he also wants emphasize return on international aid provided by Russia. This investment will be prioritized to "the bloc uniting Russia’s closest allies among post-Soviet republics" and long-time allies. Konstantin Kosachev makes it clear that this plan is not just for humanitarian purposes, but to infiltrate Russia's national  interests.

Anyone who is familiar with Vladimir Putin's style of public diplomacy might consider this 2020 plan a much more holistic approach than what we are used to seeing from Russia. However, I do not think this would necessarily soften his image with the west. In light of recent tensions with the U.S. and the U.S. being unsatisfied with Russian military forces, this announcements of bilateral collaborations won't be enough to impress the West (not to say that's the goal). The regional nature of these bilateral investments emphasizes Putin's conservative and nationalistic approach. Putin is showing that he is willing to collaborate, but only with those he knows are allies, unlike the U.S. that does not always give foreign aid to countries that are favorable with us.

Another plus with Russia's foreign aid strategy is that they do not hide the fact that the purpose is promote its national interests. This is further proof of Russia, let alone Putin's, candid and blunt style of public diplomacy. I do argue that Putin's regime should aim to invest in countries that are not directly in the post-soviet republics. Russia is a world power, but it has not achieved the influence that the U.S. has gained because of certain factors. Investing foreign aid into further countries would be a great strategy to proliferate Russiaa influence worldwide.

http://rt.com/politics/russia-foreign-policy-concept-828/