Matt Tavares is a former analyst for the Pentagon, focusing on Russian military strategy and U.S. foreign policy.
Articles & Testimony
Moscow has certainly not left the Middle East playing field, and many countries will continue expanding their Russian ties unless Washington convinces them there are better options.
Don’t count Russia out in the Middle East. Conventional wisdom suggests it is rapidly losing influence across the region, but Russia remains an active force there, and the United States should move to thwart these ambitions. Of course, many of Vladimir Putin’s regional partners have been weakened or collapsed in recent months. Rebels ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, and Israel has pummeled Hamas and Hezbollah, both of which are backed by the Kremlin’s longtime friend Iran. Putin’s war of choice in Ukraine also continues to deplete Russia’s resources. But these setbacks have not yet amounted to a geostrategic defeat or a regional realignment. Russia does not just retain a presence in the Middle East; it is poised for a resurgence...