All Policy Analysis by Anna Borshchevskaya

A recent spate of high-level regional visits may pave the way for Moscow to entrench itself from the East Mediterranean to the Gulf of Aden, with help from the Gulf states.

Moscow will likely continue using the struggle over Karabakh to pursue its own interests.

Moscow casts itself as a reliable mediator and security partner, but in actuality it benefits from playing all sides of regional disputes and fostering perpetual low-level conflict.

The Kremlin often becomes more aggressive abroad to help shore up its legitimacy at home, so it may be more than happy to maintain a permanent state of low-level, managed conflict in the region.

If recent history is any indicator, ceding further ground to Russia virtually guarantees that the conflict will keep simmering for years to come.

All eyes will be on the secretary’s speech this week, so striking the right balance between President Trump’s domestic imperatives and the realities of regional policy is crucial.

Explore the subtle strategies, including information manipulation, that Moscow is using to expand Russian influence in the Middle East.

The Italian-sponsored stabilization conference produced some positive outcomes, but a genuine breakthrough requires U.S. involvement.

The assistance package is small but symbolically important, demonstrating Moscow’s growing influence in Beirut while potentially throwing Hezbollah and Iran for a loop.

The system’s familiarity and potentially minimal, nonintegrated deployment mean that U.S. and Israeli pilots have little to fear from Moscow’s announcement.

Three experts discuss what Moscow's arms deliveries and growing military footprint in Syria mean for American operations in the Levant, U.S.-Russian relations, and Washington's allies in the region.

In the country's narrowing independent press, experts are casting doubt on claims of Israeli culpability—and stirring questions about why Russians continue to die in Syria.

Despite Russia’s anger and false media claims about the incident, Moscow is unlikely to demand that Israel halt its campaign against Iran’s foreign military buildup.

In addition to his poor record on keeping promises, Putin has no ability or desire to genuinely restrain Iran, leaving little room for substantive dealmaking.

An expert on Russian foreign policy explains how even a partial Cairo-Moscow alliance on specific security and energy issues could be inimical to U.S. interests.

For too long, U.S. policymakers have tailored their approach toward Cairo as if Washington were the only player in the sandbox.

As the Iraqi Kurds reach out to Russia, the Kremlin’s sway over their politics and energy resources is growing.

Russia’s World Cup hospitality toward Egypt is the latest example of how Putin curries favor in the Middle East via Chechnya.