Published July 7, 2018 | Version v1
Working paper Open

Russian policies towards the MENA region

  • 1. Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade (KKI)

Description

Russia wields its influence in pursuit of important state interests. As in the Soviet era, contemporary Russia declares ambitious goals and pursues them in a desperate effort to play a decisive role in world politics. The overall objective of Russian foreign policy is to become a world power, and gaining influence over the MENA region is a means to achieving that end. As is clearly expressed in strategic documents, Russia considers the MENA region a priority domain for extensive diplomatic activity. The Kremlin’s MENA policy incorporates a critically important premise, noninterventionism, that is attractive to the region’s autocratic regimes, which resist Western-style liberal “interventionist” democracy. Russia’s influence on these countries is increasingly strong due to its (1) deideologized approach, (2) assistance (in the form of long-term loans) in the construction of nuclear power plants as well as arms supplies, and (3) anti-American stance, reflecting Arab and Iranian (Islamic) interests.

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