Russia's New Presence in the Middle East

Abstract

Russia has made systematic strategic efforts for the last few years to expand and enhance its strategic presence throughout the Middle East. It has used all the instruments of power available to it-arms sales, energy sales or buys, and diplomatic support-to gain a lasting position from which it can influence all of the states and issues in the Middle East while remaining unconstrained in its behavior. In other words, it seeks a position from which it can influence or obstruct events but not have any responsibility for arranging true peace settlements of a lasting nature. Indeed, even its attitude toward terrorists is of a strictly utilitarian nature. Hence, its Middle Eastern policies are ultimately and essentially negative and obstructive and cannot bring about a lasting settlement anywhere.