In the past few years, we notice a resurgence of Russian influence across Middle East and North Africa. From diplomatic presence in the most important negotiations (Syrian crisis, Israeli-Palestinian conflict etc.), direct military intervention, to forging strong bilateral partnerships, Russia brands itself as an important player in the region. In this process, it also takes advantage of the loss of credibility of the other major international actors present, the EU and the US.
This paper aims to provide an overview over how Russia is becoming a strong actor in the MENA region. The analysis will explore the Russian actions on multiple layers in several sub regions such as North Africa, Levant and the Gulf. In order to give an accurate account, Russia’s strategy will be outlined with special emphasis on the main tools it uses: military intervention, arms sales and nuclear energy. Each of these not only involves presence on the ground for Russian offshoots but also strengthens a long term presence giving political leverage that can be used in gathering diplomatic support, access to critical infrastructure and resources as well as a market for Russian military equipment and nuclear technology. The paper will also provide specific examples that illustrate how Russia’s strategy works. Furthermore, the drawbacks of the Russian actions will be highlighted, pointing out what they lack and where they fail to achieve their aims.
