Determinants of Russian Foreign Policy in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Research Abstract

The Study discusses the Eastern Mediterranean region’s importance in the thrusts of Russian foreign policy, recently Russia has become one of the most important geopolitical players in the Eastern Mediterranean. Russia seeks to find a foothold in the region, in order to re-establish itself as a great power and assume a new global role led by Putin, who has adopted a strategy that serves Russia's interests. The Russian move in this region was according to the determinants of its foreign policy, some of which are represented in the Russian geography and its access to warm-water ports, and it has a common cultural heritage rooted in Orthodox Christianity and the region is also rich in many natural resources such as oil and gas reserves, which makes it an important player in the global energy map, whether in terms of production, export or terms of control transport Pipelines natural gas from Central Asia and the Middle East to Europe. Historically, Russia had a great influence in the Eastern Mediterranean, this region was the scene of the ideological struggle between the two poles during the Cold War. Despite the neglect that the region was subjected to during the 1990s, with Putin's accession to power, it has returned once again among the priorities of Russian policy. Since the onset of the second decade of the 21st century, Russian policy towards the Eastern Mediterranean has been based on its ability to combine elements of soft and hard power: such as the military intervention in Syria in 2015 was the first of its kind outside the territory of the former Soviet Union, or economic policies, given that this region is a suitable market for Russian weapons in addition to the role of Russian natural gas companies. So, Russia’s current policies in the Eastern Mediterranean can be seen as part of a pattern aimed at enhancing its power globally. Keywords: (Russian Foreign Policy, Eastern Mediterranean Region, determinants, the military intervention in Syria).

Research Keywords

determinants-the military intervention in Syria -Russian Foreign Policy, Eastern Mediterranean -