Taliban, Assad continue to unite Russia, Iran While Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed ways to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal in his visit to Tehran this week, the topics of Syria and Afghanistan also featured prominently on the agenda. Kirill Semenov | Russia | Apr 16, 2021 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (R) meets with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Moscow on Dec. 30, 2019. The two met again in Tehran, Iran, on April 13, 2021.
Russia describes latest Iran nuclear talks as 'positive' The talks in Vienna come less than a week after a suspected Israeli attack on an Iranian nuclear facility. Al-Monitor Staff | Iran | Apr 15, 2021
Egypt joins Gulf region’s Combined Maritime Forces led by US Egypt's participation in the task force comes as Russia seeks closer defense ties with Cairo and Sudan. Al-Monitor Staff | Gulf | Apr 15, 2021
Russian FM talks Nile dam, defense cooperation in Egypt trip Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also discussed Libya and Syria with Egypt's leaders Al-Monitor Staff | Egypt | Apr 14, 2021
Turkey, US in rare position of unity over Ukraine Russia’s Turkey policy to "drive a wedge between Turkey and its NATO allies" will not likely bear fruit when it comes to Ukraine. Amberin Zaman | Turkey | Apr 12, 2021
China looms large in Turkey’s controversial waterway project Turkey is reportedly gearing up to partner with China in the construction of an artificial waterway parallel to the Bosporus, a project with likely implications for Russia and the United States in the Black Sea. Fehim Tastekin | Turkey | Apr 12, 2021
Who benefits if Erdogan scraps key maritime treaty? A warning by more than 100 retired Turkish admirals against scrapping an 85-year-old maritime treaty restricting foreign military presence in the Black Sea coincides with rising tensions between Russia and Western-backed Ukraine in the region. Fehim Tastekin | Turkey | Apr 9, 2021
What’s Moscow's game plan for Lebanon? With the worsening of the Lebanese crisis, Russia will have to take a closer look at Lebanese affairs to protect its assets in Syria. Mona Alami | Lebanon | Apr 3, 2021
Russia, Iran propose alternative maritime routes amid Suez Canal blockage Russia and Iran have called for the need to find alternative maritime shipping routes after a giant vessel was stuck in Egypt’s Suez Canal, blocking maritime traffic for days before it was freed. Ahmed Gomaa | Egypt | Apr 2, 2021
Russia steps up vaccine diplomacy in Maghreb, North Africa Russia expands its area of influence in the Maghreb as Tunisia and Algeria receive batches of the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, raising questions about Moscow's motives. Ahmed Nadhif | Tunisia | Apr 1, 2021
US cooling could help Russia boost ties with Saudi Arabia While Moscow realizes that it cannot replace the US role in the region, it’s hoping a cooling of ties between Washington and Riyadh will help bolster its own influence. Kirill Semenov | Russia / Mideast | Mar 26, 2021
Russian foreign minister’s visit aimed at challenging US influence in Gulf Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s recent visit to the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar came amid uncertainty among these states about their future relations with the new US administration. Kirill Semenov | Russia / Mideast | Mar 19, 2021
Erdogan defends Putin over spat with Biden Turkish President Erdogan said it was unbecoming of a head of state for Biden to call Putin a "killer." Al-Monitor Staff | Turkey | Mar 19, 2021
What's next for Russia’s relations with Hezbollah? A Hezbollah delegation visits Moscow, with Lebanese politics and stability and Syria's political future atop the agenda. Anton Mardasov | Russia | Mar 18, 2021
UN says Libya arms embargo 'totally ineffective' A United Nations panel of experts accused several member states, including Turkey and Russia, of fueling the Libyan conflict. Al-Monitor Staff | Libya | Mar 17, 2021
Gantz informs Biden administration of updated Israeli plans to strike Iran Al-Monitor Staff | Israel | Mar 5, 2021
Online ‘auctions’ of Yazidi captives speak of ongoing Islamic State activity in Turkey Fehim Tastekin | Iraq | Mar 5, 2021
Egypt moves ahead with purchase of Russian arms despite US warnings A correspondent in Egypt | Egypt | Mar 3, 2021
Biden administration's textbook approach to Iran may be paying off Week in Review | U.S. | Mar 5, 2021
Sudan hoping for shift in Ethiopian position on Nile Dam talks, says Nureldin Satti, Sudan’s Ambassador to US
Is Turkey's authoritarian president losing his grip? Wishful thinking, says Ankara-based journalist Raziye Akkoc
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (R) meets with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Moscow on Dec. 30, 2019. The two met again in Tehran, Iran, on April 13, 2021.
