MAGAZINE
SPRING 2019 challenging Western interests in the region . Russia ’ s leadership and its diplomatic activism in the MENA reveal Moscow ’ s intention to remain a decisive player throughout the region indefinitely .
2 . Economic Strategy
With regard to Russian economic policy , nuclear energy plays a pivotal role in expanding Moscow ’ s strategic interests as well as developing national cooperation pacts in agriculture , medicine , and mining which will strengthen Moscow ’ s political and cultural influence in MENA .
Moscow ’ s goal is to counter Western influence in Africa by establishing itself as an economic and strategic operator . Russia ’ s role in the global markets , especially in the field of raw materials to include both oil and non-oil resources , is comparatively different from Western countries relationship with African nations . Moscow places a premium on human capital in Africa , in which the ruling classes have to be trained , followed by the masses in order to be productive .
This process creates an integrated vision of the economic development between Russia and Africa . Both Russia ’ s and Africa ’ s geoeconomic situation are very similar , having large reserves of raw materials , creating a long-term geopolitical interest for Moscow and a synergy between the best practices of both Russia and the African continent .
Since 2000 , Russian exports increased considerably . For example , wheat exports have jumped from one percent to 20 percent in the last year , with the main importers of Russian wheat coming from North Africa . It is a further step towards the objective of diversifying Russia ’ s economy , which is largely dependent on the sale of gas and oil .
In addition , Russian military exports to
Africa are increasing . Between 2007 and 2018 , Russia sold 21 billion weapons in 15 African nations , mainly to Algeria and Egypt .
3 . Military Strategy
Russia ’ s strategic goals include strengthening its aeronaval presence in the waters of the eastern Mediterranean . Moscow , since 2015 , implemented defensive infrastructure around the port of Tartus and the Khmemim Russian air base , south of Latakia City , Syria . According to open sources , Russia installed the S-400 missile defense systems around both bases . In the near future , the port of Tartus will be expanded at an estimated cost of 3.2 billion Rubles . Russia signed an
09 agreement with the Syrian government to use the port for 49 years with the possibility of extending it automatically for another 25 years .
Russia completed an advanced anti-access / area denial ( A2AD ) network combining its air defense and electronic warfare systems operated by Syria . Russia can use these capabilities to challenge NATO on the
Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East .
Aditionally , Moscow is excercising considerable interest in military cooperation agreements with other countries in the region . For example , in Egypt new forms of military and technical-military cooperation were implemented . Over the last three years , Russian and Egyptian airborne troops conducted joint anti-terrorist exercises with the aim of countering the terrorist threat more effectively and increasing the level of partnership and military cooperation between the two countries .
Conclusion
By satisfying its ambitions , Russia become a main actor in the new geopolitics of the Mediterranean and it is clear that this represents a new challenge , in which NATO has an important role to play in the future .