The Main Directions of Russian Policy in the Struggle for Spheres of Influence in the North Pacific Ocean at the Beginning of the 18th Сentury

The article is devoted to the study of the origins of the colonial struggle of European powers for spheres of influence in the Asia-Pacific region in the late 17th ‒ first half of the 18th century. The international situation around the process of opening and developing the northern Pacific Ocean, the fear of metropolises to lose their spheres of influence stand out as one of the main reasons for the advancement of countries in the region. The reasons for the study of the North Pacific Territories are systematized, economic, political and scientific prerequisites are noted. In the first half of the 18th century, the Pacific Ocean became the arena of geopolitical interests of leading powers. On the one hand, this period was characterized by an Anglo-French colonial confrontation. On the other hand, the interest of these countries in the north of the Pacific Ocean was not so pronounced in comparison with the positions of Russia and Spain in the region. Nevertheless, at the intersection of Asia and America, there was a clash of interests of several countries, expressed in direct and potential expansion. It was in the first half of the 18th century that the formation of international relations on the study of the North of the Pacific Ocean and the emergence of the struggle of powers for spheres of influence in the Asia-Pacific region were traced. The article examines the view of Spain, France, Great Britain and Russia on the course of colonization of North America. The Russian Empire seems to be the main participant in geopolitics in the north of the Asia-Pacific region. The main directions of Russia’s policy in the struggle for spheres of influence in the region are systematized and analyzed. The development of Russian-British, Russian-French and Russian-Spanish relations on the study of these territories in the first half of the 18th century is studied, the interaction of countries on the process of studying the North Pacific region and the further development of the west coast of North America is analyzed.