Russia's Position and Actions of Russian Diplomacy Regarding Problems and Confl icts in the Arab World in 2026

Abstract

From Gaza to the Persian Gulf: the Middle East vector of Russian foreign policy in the context of regional turbulence. The article analyzes Russia’s Middle Eastern policy in 2026 — a period marked by a sharp escalation of the situation in the Arab world: the war between the United States and Israel against Iran, the continuation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the Lebanese crisis surrounding the disarmament of Hezbollah, protracted conflicts in Yemen, Sudan and Libya, as well as diplomatic battles over the status of Western Sahara. The author shows that during this period, Russian diplomacy consistently upholds the principles of international law, the central role of the UN, and the right of Arab peoples to self determination, while avoiding direct military involvement and relying on mediation, economic presence, and targeted military technical support for individual partners. Special attention is paid to the updated Russian concept of collective security in the Persian Gulf region, presented in 2026, as well as to the preparations for the first Russia–Arab world summit. It is shown that Moscow seeks to use the weakening of Arab capitals’ trust in Washington after the February war with Iran and the contradictory implementation of the “Trump plan” regarding Gaza to strengthen their own positions in the region without direct confrontation with the United States and its allies. In conclusion, a short term forecast is provided for the development of Russian Arab relations and Moscow’s Middle East policy for 2026–2027.