Analysis of the Relations between Major Middle Eastern Regional Actors and Russia in the Context of the Russia-Ukraine War

Abstract

he war in Ukraine, started by the Russian Federation on Feb­ruary 24, 2022, has had a significant geopolitical impact on the Middle East region, where states' foreign policy is traditionally based on the principles of balance and power equilibrium. This article aims to analyze the attitudes and behavior of Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt towards Russia in the period after the start of the war. The analysis shows that these countries adhered to a do­uble game tactic - on the one hand, they maintained a strategic par­tnership with the US and the West, and on the other hand, they did not sever economic and energy relations with Russia. Israel tried to maintain neutrality due to security interests related to Iran; Saudi Ara­bia and the Emirates continued to cooperate with Russia in the OPEC+ format; and Egypt maintained cooperation with Rosatom in the field of nuclear energy. Considering the reality of 2025, the policy of the re­gion's states is still based on a pragmatic balance, but Russia's influence has noticeably decreased - against the background of Iran's stren­gthe­ning, Western sanctions, and China's economic activity. As a result, the Middle East has transformed into a multipolar space, where Rus­sia's role is no longer perceived as the only, but decisive factor.