A middling power: Russia’s shrinking role in the Middle East
Not long ago, Russia was considered a key player in the Middle East. Moscow had managed to maintain good relations with Syria, Iran, and Israel, leveraging its status as a broker capable of talking to both sides in a range of disputes. Today, however, the long-planned Russia-Arab summit in Moscow has been postponed indefinitely, and instead of welcoming a Syrian ally for a visit to the Kremlin earlier this month, Putin met with the new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa.