- Vasily Alexandrovich, what is Russia's modern approach to foreign policy in the Middle East?
- This approach is based on maintaining the principle of interaction with all Middle Eastern actors. That is, in essence, Russian foreign policy in the region is aimed at maintaining balance. In some short-term intervals, fluctuations are possible, including a deterioration in relations, as it is happening with Israel, but then the situation does improve. It is to be expected now. The fact is that there are fundamental ties between Russia and Israel, as well as between Russia and other states in the region.
- Why does Russia adhere to a strategy of balance in the Middle East?
- Russia's strategy in the Middle East is based on Russia's fundamental and permanent interest in ensuring its own security. The fundamental interest is always maintained by all governments in both the Middle East and the Russian Federation. This includes increasing economic interaction with other states.
In the new conditions, given the sanctions pressure, to ensure Russia's security, it has become important that Middle Eastern states are not included in the list of countries that apply anti-Russian sanctions. And we see that, indeed, none of them are included in such a list. Relations between them and Russia range from friendly to neutral, and Moscow's goal is to have more friendly relations over time.
- What are the main directions of modern Russian policy in the Middle East?
- If we talk about strategies on individual tracks, then, of course, the fundamental issue is the task of formation of a regional security system in the Middle East and North Africa. It is designed to ensure the very Russian interests in the region. There is a Russian concept of collective security in the Persian Gulf zone, developed on the basis of the idea that the core for the building of a security system in the Middle East could be the Persian Gulf, where there are fairly stable states that influence the entire region
Another specific interest is the implementation of large infrastructure projects, especially the international North-South transport corridor passing through Azerbaijan and Iran. The third direction is Syria, since it is the only country in the Middle East with a direct Russian military presence. Accordingly, the stability and security of Syria are very important for Russia.
