Up until a year ago, the Middle East seems to be Russia’s most pressing business. Ukraine was always in the background, but between 2014 and 2022 Syria seemed to occupy center stage, with Russian bases, units and operations bolstering the Assad regime while carrying out Moscow’s own missions. Now that Syria and perhaps the entire Mideast have been relegated to a secondary position, what are the implications for Russia’s relations with regional powers such as Israel, Iran and Turkey? How does the emergence of a Russian-Chinese axis actively competing with an American-led one impact the region?
To ponder these questions are joined Prof. Zeev Khanin, Expert on Russian and Middle Eastern Studies, Bar Ilan and Ariel Universities, Miss Paula Slier, Middle East Bureau Chief of Russia Today and Head of Channel RT Africa, and Analyst Amir Oren.
