Beyond the ‘Arab Spring’: Russia’s Security Interests in the Middle East

Summary:

The reconfiguration of the regional system of international relations as a result of the Arab revolutions has engendered fresh challenges for Russia, related, amongst other things, to deteriorating relations with the USA and other Western powers. Charting its course in the Arab world, Russian policy stemmed not only from relatively narrow economic tasks (generating income for Russian companies), but also strove to raise its international profile in general and ensure recognition by major powers of its national interests, which do not depend on the international political environment.

• Primary Source

• Alternative Source