According to the article, even Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the warming of relations with Iran failed to damage cooperation with Israel. The leaders of the countries continued to maintain contact, and Prime Minister B. Netanyahu announced that he was not committed to war in Ukraine and refused to provide Ukrainian armed forces with lethal assistance or air defense systems.
“Now, following the deadly attack on Israel by Iran-backed Hamas militants, these talks appear to have stalled. V. Putin is one of the few world leaders who did not call B. Netanyahu and express his condolences for the more than 1,300 Israelis killed in the attack by Hamas, writes The Wall Street Journal.
But the tectonic changes in the Middle East began long before Hamas hitmen fired rockets into Israel.
Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, in search of weapons and allies, Putin has changed relations with Iran and strengthened ties with Arab countries such as Egypt, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates.
“Moscow is now believed to be laying the foundations for a strategic relationship with the Islamic Republic, which has delivered thousands of Shahed drones,” The Wall Street Journal writes, adding that Russia has responded by supplying Iran with Yak-130 training planes and is considering the possibility of selling Su-35s, which can change the balance of air power in the Middle East.
For years, Russia and Iran have maintained close ties, but their relationship has been fraught with mistrust as each side played games with the West.
In particular, Russian officials see the conflict in Israel as a blow to the prestige of the United States and will force Washington to evaluate its ability to simultaneously provide aid to Kyiv and Jerusalem.
“Russia is looking for a partner who can provide weapons, but its favor to Iran is also determined by broader anti-Western sentiments,” commented Nikolai Kozhanov, an expert on Russia-Iran relations at Qatar University.
Iranian-Russian favoritism has especially extended to the Tehran-backed Hamas group, which recently invaded Israel. In the past year, at least two high-level militant delegations have flown to Moscow for negotiations.
Over the weekend, Hamas thanked Putin for his stance on “the ongoing Zionist aggression against our nation and rejecting the mantle of the Gaza Strip.”
The Russian Federation did not particularly condemn the terrorist attack against Israel, and Russian State Duma deputy Andrei Guruliov, in turn, noted Jerusalem’s alliance with the United States and Moscow’s alliance with Iran and the “surrounding Muslim world.”
It all started in the Soviet Union
Moscow’s strengthening of ties with Iran echoes the position of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, when it armed Israel’s biggest enemies in order to oppose its American partners and maintain its position in the world’s poorest countries. This in turn led to the 1967 The Six Day War and the Yom Kippur War six years later.
“Meanwhile, the Kremlin has internal reasons to welcome the war away from Russia’s borders. Ahead of Russia’s presidential election in March, the Kremlin is looking for ways to distract from the war in Ukraine. To maintain his 23-year rule of Russia, Putin uses the state media to ignore domestic problems and focus on the mess abroad,” the article states.
Since last weekend, the war in Ukraine has been pushed off the front pages of newspapers around the world and in Russia itself, where the media has turned its attention to Israel and the Gaza Strip.
In particular, Russian officials see the conflict in Israel as a blow to the prestige of the United States and will force Washington to evaluate its ability to simultaneously provide aid to Kyiv and Jerusalem.
AFP/Scanpix/Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Russian leader Vladimir Putin
In his first comments on the Hamas attacks early last week, V. Putin criticized the US, calling the attacks “a clear example of the failure of US policy in the Middle East” and saying that the US had never defended Palestinian interests in peace talks. On Friday, he said Israel had the right to defend itself against Hamas attacks, but called for peace talks that should lead to the creation of an independent Palestinian state, the publication added.
Other Kremlin commentators cheered that the fighting in Israel meant two US allies could now be without protection. Propagandist Vladimir Solovyov, for his part, retold the news about the decision taken by the United States in January to remove 300,000 American 155 mm artillery shells from an arsenal in Israel and hand them over to the Ukrainian army.
According to Thomas Graham, a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, the Russian media is likely to use any chaotic events in Israel or elsewhere to divert attention from Russia’s domestic problems.
October 7 Hamas terrorists attacked Israel from the Gaza Strip. Militants took hostages, killed hundreds of civilians and took control of some military facilities.
Israel, in turn, declared “martial law” and launched the anti-terrorist operation “Iron Swords”. The military leadership emphasized its plans to destroy Hamas. According to the latest reports, the Israeli armed forces are stationed at the border of the Gaza Strip and are “waiting for the green light” from the political leadership.
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#Wall #Street #Journal #Hamas #attack #watershed #RussianIsraeli #relations
**Interview with Dr. Nikolai Kozhanov, Expert on Russia-Iran Relations**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Kozhanov. The recent article highlights increased military cooperation between Iran and Russia amidst the backdrop of broader geopolitical changes. Can you share your insights on what factors contributed to this growing relationship?
**Dr. Kozhanov:** Thank you for having me. The relationship between Russia and Iran has evolved significantly over the years due to shifting global dynamics. Factors include Iran’s need for military support and Russia’s search for allies amid its isolation following the invasion of Ukraine. Both countries have shared interests, particularly anti-Western sentiments, which have created a foundation for military cooperation.
**Editor:** Interesting. With the ongoing conflict involving Hamas and Israel and the apparent shift in Russia’s stance, how do you see these developments affecting Russia’s relations with Israel?
**Dr. Kozhanov:** The conflict represents a complex situation for Russia. Historically, Russia has maintained a relationship with Israel while simultaneously fostering ties with Iranian-backed groups like Hamas. However, the recent attacks by Hamas on Israel have strained this delicate balance. Russia’s failure to condemn the attacks and its lack of condolences towards Israel signal a deeper alignment with Iranian interests. This may push Russia to solidify its partnership with Iran and, at the same time, complicate its relations with Israel moving forward.
**Editor:** You mentioned that Moscow perceives the conflict as a challenge to U.S. influence. How does this influence Russia’s strategic calculations in the region?
**Dr. Kozhanov:** Absolutely. Russian officials view the upheaval as an opportunity to undermine U.S. prestige. By positioning itself as a supporter of Iran and Palestinian interests, Russia is essentially presenting itself as a counterbalance to American influence in the region. This shift could embolden Russia to pursue a more active role in Middle Eastern geopolitics, particularly as Washington reallocates its attention between supporting Ukraine and Israel.
**Editor:** Lastly, considering the historical context provided in the article, how are past Cold War dynamics influencing current relations between these nations?
**Dr. Kozhanov:** The historical precedent is significant. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union armed Israel’s adversaries to challenge U.S. policies. Today, this dynamic appears to be repeating itself as Russia deepens military ties with Iran while leveraging its relationships with other Arab nations. Moscow aims to exploit existing geopolitical fractures to enhance its strategic positioning in a region that has long been resistant to U.S. dominance.
**Editor:** Thank you, Dr. Kozhanov, for your enlightening analysis today. Your insights into the complexities of Middle Eastern geopolitics and the changing alliances are incredibly valuable.
**Dr. Kozhanov:** Thank you for having me. The situation is indeed complex and continually evolving, and it will be interesting to see how these relationships develop in light of recent events.
