MAGAZINE
SPRING 2019
Russian Strategies in the MENA
By Lt . Col . Giuseppe Guerra ( ITA ), LANDCOM G2 .
Moscow is pursuing a military , diplomatic , and economic strategy to extend its influence over the Middle East and
North Africa ( MENA ), which raises the issue of Russia becoming a permanent threat to NATO ’ s Southern flank when it is already a major one to its Eastern flank
The Return
Since the mid-2000s , Russia worked to rebuild its influence and standing in the MENA , reversing a trend since the end of the Cold War , in which it was almost completely excluded . After the so-called Arab Spring , Russian intervention in the Mediterranean region is characterized by exploiting the political chaos that followed those revolutions . This led to a realignment of the ruling classes , such as in Egypt , which proved to have closer relations to Moscow . Additionally , the Syrian and Libyan conflicts opened up new possibilities to create
Russian alliances and political agreements .
“ Russia ’ s leadership and its diplomatic activism in the MENA reveal Moscow ’ s intention to remain a decisive player throughout the region indefinitely ”.
Lines of Action
Russian strategy can be divided into three lines of action : political / diplomatic , economic , and military .
1 . Political and Diplomatic Strategy
Historically , Russian foreign policy in the Middle East has always been a top priority for expanding Moscow ’ s geopolitical interests , extending its projection to the Mediterranean Sea . In this context , Syria holds great strategic value for Russian expansionism in the Middle East . Russian intervention in Syria revealed its political nature to exploited the Syrian crisis to get closer to Damascus , and to play a leading role in Middle Eastern affairs at the expense of the West .
Also in North Africa , Moscow is playing its proactive role on a multiplicity of crisis scenarios to include Lybia and
Yemen , in a variety of fronts that continue to offer them rich opportunities . During the last four years , Russia increased its influence in the area . The sale of arms and the stipulation of economic agreements were the most effective instrument for making solidifying relations with key regional powers , such as Egypt , while simultaneously
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