Full Description
The war in Syria has put Russia at the centre of Middle Eastern politics. Moscow's return to the region following a prolonged period of absence has enhanced its geopolitical status at a time it has emerged as a rival to the West. Yet, contrary to the media hype, Vladimir Putin is not set to become the new power-broker in this strategically important part of the world.
Co-authored by a team of prominent scholars and analysts from the EU, US, Russia and the Middle East, this book explores Russia's role in the Middle East and North Africa, the diverse drivers shaping its policy, and the response from local players. Chapters map out the history of Russian involvement, before and after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the impact on key issues such as security and defence, regional conflicts, arms trade, and energy, as well as relations influential states and country clusters such as Iran, the Gulf, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, and the Maghreb. It also looks at how the Middle East impacts on Russia's relations with the West. The book offers a balanced assessment of Russian influence, highlighting both the political, diplomatic and commercial gains made thanks to Putin's decision in September 2015 to intervene militarily in Syria and the constraints preventing Moscow from replacing the United States as a regional hegemon.
Contents
Part I: Russia in the Middle East: From the Soviet Union to Putin
Chapter 1: The Soviet Union in the Middle East: An Overview
Florence Gaub, Nicu Popescu, Dimitar Bechev
Chapter 2: What Drives Russia's Policy in the Middle East?
Dmitri Trenin, Carnegie Moscow
Part II: Russian Policy in Action
Chapter 3: Russia in Syria: A Military Analysis
Anton Lavrov, Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST), Moscow
Chapter 4: The Non-War on Daesh
Florence Gaub, EUISS
Chapter 5: Russian Arms Exports in the Middle East
Timofey Borisov, Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST), Moscow
Chapter 6: Russia's Energy Diplomacy in the Middle East
Carole Nakhle, Crystol Energy
Part III: Regional Partnerships
Chapter 7: Russia and Iran: It's Complicated
Carol R. Saivetz, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Chapter 8: Russia and the 'Resistance Axis'
Julien Barnes-Dacey, ECFR
Chapter 9: Russia and Turkey: the Promise and the Limits of Partnership
Dimitar Bechev, University of North Carolina/Atlantic Council
Chapter 10: Understanding Russia-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) relations
Dmitriy Frolovskiy, independent expert
Chapter 11: Russia and Egypt: Precarious Honeymoon
Alexey Khlebnikov, Russian International Affairs Council
Chapter 12: The 'Comrades' in the Maghreb
Dalia Ghanem, Carnegie Middle East Centre, Beirut
Chapter 13: Russia and Israel: An Improbable Friendship
Mark N. Katz, George Mason University
Conclusion: Russia in the Middle East and North Africa: A Balance Sheet
Stanislav Secrieru, Dimitar Bechev
