The war in Syria has put Russia at the centre of Middle Eastern politics. Moscow's return to the region following a prolonged period of absence has enhanced its geopolitical status at a time it has emerged as a rival to the West. Yet, contrary to the media hype, Vladimir Putin is not set to become the new power-broker in this strategically important part of the world.
Co-authored by a team of prominent scholars and analysts from the EU, US, Russia and the Middle East, this book explores Russia's role in the Middle East and North Africa, the diverse drivers shaping its policy, and the response from local players. Chapters map out the history of Russian involvement, before and after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the impact on key issues such as security and defence, regional conflicts, arms trade, and energy, as well as relations influential states and country clusters such as Iran, the Gulf, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, and the Maghreb. It also looks at how the Middle East impacts on Russia's relations with the West. The book offers a balanced assessment of Russian influence, highlighting both the political, diplomatic and commercial gains made thanks to Putin's decision in September 2015 to intervene militarily in Syria and the constraints preventing Moscow from replacing the United States as a regional hegemon.

Dr. Nicu Popescu leads the Wider Europe program at ECFR. Between May-December 2019, he served Minister of Foreign Affairs and of Moldova. He is author of the EU Foreign Policy and Post-Soviet Conflicts: Stealth Intervention' (Routledge 2010) and co-editor of Democratization in EU Foreign Policy (2015).

Dr. Dimitar Bechev is Research Fellow at UNC Chapel Hill as well as Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C. Amongst his publications are Rival Power: Russia in Southeast Europe (Yale, 2017) and Mediterranean Frontiers (IB Tauris, 2010, co-edited with Kalypso Nicolaidis).

Dr. Stanislav Secrieru is senior analyst at the EU Institute for Security Studies where he covers Russian foreign and security policy. Prior to that, he held position with the Polish Institute of International Affairs and the Open Society European Policy Institute.