Despite being involved in a bloody and consuming two-and-a-half-year-long military confrontation in Ukraine, Russia’s influence in the Middle East and Africa does not seem to be moribund or vanishing. In a new context of international volatility, Moscow’s diplomatic influence is undergoing strategic repositioning due to its ongoing military involvement in Ukraine and its broader tensions with the West. Concerning Russian diplomatic intervention in the Israeli-Palestinian crisis and in a general Middle Eastern framework, there are multiple factors that structurally affect Russia’s engagement in the area. Moreover, Moscow has also been the main geopolitical and military ally for the Shiite powers in the Middle East, especially Iran, regardless of its steady relations with Israel. Its international diplomatic clout has been undermined by the difficult political and military campaign in Ukraine (at least temporarily).

Source: The Guardian July 20, 2024 01:39 UTC