Post by : Rameen Ariff

In a major diplomatic setback, Russian President Vladimir Putin has postponed the highly anticipated Russia-Arab world summit that was scheduled to take place in Moscow on Wednesday. The summit, intended to showcase Russia’s growing influence in the Middle East, received limited confirmations, with only Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad and Arab League Chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit committing to attend.

The postponement coincided with global focus on Egypt, where leaders from across the Middle East and Europe gathered in Sharm el-Sheikh for a Gaza peace summit. The meeting, led by US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, emphasized a growing shift in regional alliances away from Moscow. Russia’s absence at this critical event reflects a significant reduction in its diplomatic influence in the Middle East, especially amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

For nearly ten years, Russia has leveraged the Middle East to assert its global presence. Its 2015 military intervention in Syria not only secured Assad’s regime but also provided Moscow with permanent military footholds along the Mediterranean. However, the full-scale invasion of Ukraine has forced Russia to redirect military and economic resources, restricting its capacity to influence regional affairs.

Even in Gaza negotiations, where Russia historically maintained contact with both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, Moscow played no significant role this time. Relations with other regional players, including Israel, have also cooled due to Russia’s alignment with Iran and its positions on Palestinian issues.

The Sharm el-Sheikh summit highlighted a noticeable shift in regional priorities. Several Middle Eastern leaders are increasingly leaning toward the United States, valuing their ties with Trump over Moscow. The presence of Armenia and Azerbaijan’s leaders, who recently participated in US-mediated peace talks, further underscored Washington’s rising influence.

While Russian officials publicly welcomed the US-led Gaza peace initiative and suggested rescheduling the Russia-Arab summit for November, the postponement symbolically acknowledges Moscow’s reduced diplomatic weight in the Middle East. Analysts suggest this development may force Russia to reconsider its strategy in the region as it navigates the dual pressures of the Ukraine conflict and shifting Middle Eastern alliances.

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