What Is the Role of Russia in the Middle East Today?

{
  "authors": [
    "Alexey Malashenko"
  ],
  "type": "legacyinthemedia",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
    "Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center",
    "Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center",
  "programAffiliation": "",
  "programs": [],
  "projects": [
    "Eurasia in Transition"
  ],
  "regions": [
    "Egypt",
    "Gulf",
    "Levant",
    "Maghreb"
  ],
  "topics": []
}

In The Media

Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center

What Is the Role of Russia in the Middle East Today?

Russia plays an extremely important role as mediator in the current Libyan conflict. If Moscow can succeed in this role, there would be a clear positive benefit to Libya and its neighbors.

By Alexey Malashenko

Published on Jun 14, 2011

Source: RIA Novosti's Russian Angle

While NATO countries are increasingly involved in fighting against authoritarian leaders in the Middle East and North Africa, Russia is moving closer to the role of the middleman. How Russia reacts to an expected UN referendum condemning Syria for violence against protestors may play a significant part in determining Russia's future role in the region.

Speaking on RIA Novosti, Carnegie Moscow's Alexey Malashenko notes that Russia plays an extremely important role as mediator in the current Libyan conflict. If Russia can succeed in this role, there would be a clear positive benefit to Libya and its neighbors. Turning to the increasing violence in other parts of the region, Malashenko argued that a Libya-style involvement by the West in Syria would be a “big mistake,” as it could destabilize the region in unpredictable ways, and that a revolution in Yemen could lead to Islamic radicalization in neighboring states, including as Sudan, Somalia, and Eritrea.

About the Author

Alexey Malashenko

Former Scholar in Residence, Religion, Society, and Security Program

Malashenko is a former chair of the Carnegie Moscow Center’s Religion, Society, and Security Program.

Recent Work

Commentary
What Will Uzbekistan’s New President Do?
- Alexey Malashenko
Commentary
Preserving the Calm in Russia’s Muslim Community
- Alexey Malashenko

Egypt Gulf Levant Maghreb

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center

Commentary
Diwan
Realism and the Lebanon-Israel Talks
Beirut’s desire to break free from Iranian hegemony may push it into a situation where it has to accept Israel’s hegemony.
Michael Young
Paper
“Greening” the Maghreb or Exploiting It?
Unless the European Union-led energy transition provides economic development to Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, the process may be perceived as a new form of extraction.
Yasmine Zarhloule
Commentary
Diwan
The United States and Iran Have Agreed to a Two-Week Ceasefire
Spot analysis from Carnegie scholars on events relating to the Middle East and North Africa.
Michael Young
Commentary
Diwan
Hezbollah’s Wartime Strategy
The party’s objectives involve tying together the Lebanese and Iranian fronts, while surviving militarily and politically at home.
Mohamad Fawaz
Commentary
Diwan
A Mission for Lebanon’s Army
While armed forces commander Rudolph Haykal’s caution is understandable, he is in a position to act, and must.
Michael Young

More Work from Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center

Commentary

Diwan

Realism and the Lebanon-Israel Talks

Beirut’s desire to break free from Iranian hegemony may push it into a situation where it has to accept Israel’s hegemony.

Michael Young

Paper

“Greening” the Maghreb or Exploiting It?

Unless the European Union-led energy transition provides economic development to Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, the process may be perceived as a new form of extraction.

Yasmine Zarhloule

Commentary

Diwan

The United States and Iran Have Agreed to a Two-Week Ceasefire

Spot analysis from Carnegie scholars on events relating to the Middle East and North Africa.

Michael Young

Commentary

Diwan

Hezbollah’s Wartime Strategy

The party’s objectives involve tying together the Lebanese and Iranian fronts, while surviving militarily and politically at home.

Mohamad Fawaz

Commentary

Diwan

A Mission for Lebanon’s Army

While armed forces commander Rudolph Haykal’s caution is understandable, he is in a position to act, and must.

Michael Young