Russia and the Arabian Peninsula

Abstract

The Arabian Peninsula lies between the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, and between Eurasia and Africa. Because of its geopolitical location, energy resources, its role in the world oil and natural gas markets, and as the location of Islam’s two holiest sanctuaries, Mecca and Medina, it is one of the most important political and strategic regions of the world. However, the paper will argue that Russia, which is close to the Middle East, has a substantial Muslim population and is one of the major oil and natural gas-producing countries, has some special and crucial interests in the Peninsula. They include security from Islamic fundamentalism, control over its own Muslim subjects, a good image of Russia among the Muslim nations, free access to the Indian ocean, and cooperation in production and marketing of energy resources. Being as weak as it is now, Russia cannot play a heavyweight role there, and cannot compete directly with the U.S. or even the E.U., and leading Western European nations. In spite of that, its presence in and attention to the Gulf, and the Arabian Peninsula will remain a lasting feature of Moscow’s foreign policy. Considering their geopolitical proximity, strategic location, and the social and religious importance of its own increasing Muslim population, we can probably expect a more pro-active policy there from Russia in the future.