The committee is created within the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI). The new research committee is tasked with the job of studying Russian politics, analyzing round tables and later providing notes to the ministry.
In addition to Russia, the committee would also study the countries of the former Soviet Union, which the French consider as Russia's "zone of influence," the magazine reported.
The French Defense Ministry realized that it needs to fill the gaps in its lack of expertise about Russia due to "the growing ambitions of Vladimir Putin" on the international scale, Challenges reported.
Well the French certainly could learn a thing or two from Russia when it comes to conducting foreign policy. As the Russian anti-terrorist campaign in Syria enters its fourth month even US officials admitted that Moscow is not only doing a good job in the war-torn country but the Russians also know what they are doing.
Ever since the start of its airstrikes against Daesh (Islamic State), Russia openly declared it was willing to work together and coordinate its efforts with the US-led Western anti-terrorist coalition.
Russia has repeatedly stressed that its goal isn't to keep Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by any means necessary, empha Moscow said it won't accept the overthrow of a legitimately elected Syrian leader, but if the people of Syria were to democratically elect another president then Russia would no doubt respect that choice.
