GlobalWide News
Der Spiegel columnist Mikhail Zygar: The evolution of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s relations with the Middle East and how current conflicts in the region can be beneficial to him are interesting. Initially, Putin had a cautious stance toward Arab countries, aligning more closely with Israel due to personal connections and distrust of the “Arab Lobby” in Russian politics. However, after returning to the presidency in 2012 and especially following Russia’s actions in Ukraine in 2014, Putin felt isolated on the global stage. This led him to send troops to Syria to support Bashar al-Assad, marking a significant shift in Russia’s Middle East policy. This shift also saw Russia warming up to Iran, altering long-standing policies in a bid to counterbalance American influence in the region.
The recent conflict in the Middle East serves as a “gift” to Putin in multiple ways. First, it diverts international attention away from Russia’s activities in Ukraine. Second, it provides an opportunity for Putin to position himself as a leader of the anti-American world without necessarily having to support groups like Hamas directly. Russian state media have also changed their narrative, adopting a more critical stance against Israel and the U.S.
Finally, Putin has always thrived in global chaos, and the current upheaval in the Middle East allows him more room to maneuver, even without any action on his part in Ukraine and without needing to rely on changes in U.S. leadership.
The entire article can be read at the link https://www.spiegel.de/ausland/russland-und-der-nahost-konflikt-die-neuen-freunde-des-wladimir-putin-a-1604a5d6-b818-4c86-bfa5-868f5cc936d2
