Strategic Assessment

Russia’s upgraded political clout in the Middle East was facilitated by its strengthened energy sector and the lack of viable success of recent US-led military and political initiatives in the region. However, the practical implications of a stronger Russian presence should not be overestimated. Western experts believe that Moscow is unable to replace Washington as the primary ally of regional actors aligned with the US. A significant increase of Russian influence in the region is not to be expected, and instead, Russia will likely remain a secondary, pragmatic, and emotionally uninvolved actor.