| This paper analyzes contemporary Russian Foreign Policy toward the Middle East. Six factors are identified as most critical to Russian foreign policy in the region: Islamic terrorism, arms transfers, natural resources, influence over former Soviet Spaces, general trade, and great power status. With rare exceptions, these principles are shown to guide Russian foreign policy in the Middle East since 2000.;The paper continues by considering the effectiveness of Russia in achieving its desired policy outcomes in the Middle East. This includes assessing situations in which two or more priorities run counter to each other. Generally, Russia is shown to be effective at achieving its more pragmatic goals, and ineffective at achieving its abstract ones.;Finally, the paper considers whether or not Russian foreign policy has remained consistent through the Arab Spring. The conclusion is that Russia is presently unable to move beyond policies that represent clear mutual benefits with Middle Eastern states. As such, Russia is not a threat to undermine fundamental United States policy objectives in the region. |
