Best of frenemies
Russian President Vladimir Putin has cultivated strong relationships with several key players in the Middle East.
TURKEY
Less than a year ago, Turkey shot down a Russian plane it claimed had violated its airspace while flying over Syria. Relations went into a tailspin, but the deep freeze didn’t last. In June, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan apologized. That set the stage for Russian President Vladimir Putin to return the goodwill gesture after a botched coup against Erdogan in July. Putin’s support was forceful and quick, and Russia was the first country the Turkish leader visited after the attempted coup.
IRAN
Iran and Russia share an antagonist in the West, and a friend in Bashar Assad, whom Iran is also supporting with soldiers and weapons. In August, Russian bombers took off from an airbase in Iran to attack rebels in Syria. This was militarily useful: the flying distance to Syria from Iran is shorter than from Russia. But the symbolism was more important. Foreign militaries have not operated out of Iran since the Second World War.
SUNNI ARAB STATES
Many governments in the Middle East can be divided, roughly, according to whether they are aligned with Iran or Saudi Arabia. Assad’s regime is close to Iran. Most Sunni Arab states band together with Saudi Arabia. Russia sits on the fence — it’s tight with Iran, but has also agreed to co-operate with Saudi Arabia on oil prices.
ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS
Russia has had close, if shifting, relations with Israel and the Palestinians since the days of the Soviet Union, which recognized Palestinian statehood in 1988. Putin meets frequently with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This summer, he offered to host peace talks between Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Netanyahu’s office said he’s considering it.