<P> When in 1890 , Russia asked for a renewal of the treaty , Germany refused . Kaiser Wilhelm II believed his relationship with Tsar Alexander III would be sufficient to ensure further genial diplomatic ties and felt that maintaining a close bond with Russia would act to the detriment of his aims to attract Britain into the German sphere . Like the Austro - Russian antagonism , Anglo - Russian relations too were strained due to Russia gaining influence in the Balkans . The Russian aim of controlling the Straits of the Dardanelles , would threaten British colonial interests in the Middle East . Having become alarmed at its growing isolation , Saint Petersburg , as Bismarck had feared , entered into the Franco - Russian Alliance in 1894 , ending French isolation . The dismissal of Bismarck , the erratic temper of Wilhelm II and the uncertain policy of the men who succeeded Bismarck ( partly out of consideration for England , they failed to renew the Reinsurance Treaty with Russia but did renew the Triple Alliance ) , were joint causes of a period of fundamental change . </P>
who undermined bismarck 's international policies by refusing to renew the reinsurance treaty
Kaiser Wilhelm II