... Shiites and Sunnis, but we will also see the growing power struggles within the Sunni political-religious camps (Turkey — Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Nigeria and Indonesia). Another split will be between countries backing moderate Islam and those claiming ... ... of global economic trends on domestic politics; the influence of regional power struggles on unresolved conflicts in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Libya. In many ways, these dynamics are interconnected and feed into one another. However, evidence of increased contact with Russia by countries like Egypt and Jordan should be taken in the context of the US disengagement from the region, which began ...
... concern. Lavrov
voiced Moscow’s official position
on the matter by noting that inclusive talks are “the only way to resolve the difficult situation in Yemen, which, according to the United Nations, is facing a humanitarian disaster.” Although Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates declare efforts to
seek alignment
on Yemen, they have been largely fruitless so far. Given the on-the-ground situation, Russia is leaning toward the UAE and the Southern Transitional Council, which seized power from the Aden-based government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. Nevertheless, Moscow has maintained contact with all the players, including the Sanaa-based ...
... strategic purpose of complying with the OPEC+ agreement, Russia’s spare capacity today is 0.2–0.3 million barrels a day. Russian producers could use these capacities. However, this requires all OPEC/OPEC+ participants to take a joint stance on the issue.
Estimates vary as to Saudi Arabia’s prospects of restoring the damaged facilities and reaching the level of oil exports it had prior to September ... ... knowledge of the fact that Saudi missile defense systems were covering the northeast (towards Iran and Iraq) and the south (Yemen), leaving the western direction, the “no man’s land,” open.
What about the United States?
The shale revolution in ...
... resources and current foreign policy priorities. Therefore, Russia’s commitment to promoting the political process can be defined as long-term.
In this context, we cannot avoid mentioning the Syrian conflict and possible relevant trade-offs between Saudi Arabia and Russia. However, it would be unreasonable to tie the conflicts in Syria and in Yemen together, even though some Russian experts believe that Syrian armed groups with connections to certain Saudi circles pose the greatest threat to the so-called de-escalation zones.
Sergey Serebrov:
Yemen Crisis: Causes, Threats and Resolution Scenarios
...
... its ongoing war. To Saudi Arabia, Russia is not an enemy nor a fierce competitor. It is the Iranian influence that Saudis fear the most, it is the historical enemy of Saudi Arabia, and both countries have waged proxy wars in each of Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. It is the modern “Cold War” of the Middle-East. One of the reasons Saudi Arabia did not join the Astana initiative is that Iran is a founder. The Saudis does not fear a Russian influence in Syria, but they rather fear an Iranian one. Plus, Russians and Saudis have a lot to discuss and cooperate such as Oil and Gas markets, they have to deal openly at some point. It is in none favour to go into a confrontation in Syria ...
RIAC Policy Brief No. 14
The events in Yemen has long remained in the shadow of the numerous crises in other Middle Eastern countries. Nevertheless, the Yemen crisis ... ... urgent measures are not taken to resolve the political crisis in the country, the situation could present greater challenges.
Russia has been consistent in calling on global and regional forces to work together in trying to resolve the region’s problems....
... Russian experts took a keen interest in the report. The speaker touched upon different levels of the issue including regional level. The experts discussed possible parameters for handling the situation and exact proposals that could be supported both by Saudi Arabia and Russia, representing different sides of the Yemen conflict. Special attention was given to the humanitarian situation, gender issue, etc.
Russia was represented by specialists from the Institute of Oriental Studies at Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, Valdai ...
... unbalancing of regional security may entail an aggravation of current crises and an exacerbation of nascent tensions, pushing Russia and the U.S. towards big decisions as early as this year. As a matter of fact, both the Kremlin and the White House would ... ... for themselves and the region.
The Syrian settlement is dangerously moving off the rails of the Vienna process, as Iran and Saudi Arabia, its key regional members, are losing the incentives to fulfill their obligations.
To this end, Syria and Yemen appear most vulnerable. The Syrian settlement is dangerously moving off the rails of the Vienna process, as Iran and Saudi ...
... 3.66 billion.
EPA/YOUSSEF BADAWI
Boris Dolgov, Omar Mahmood:
The Syrian Conflict: Russian and GCC
Perspectives
The U.S. allies largely share the same needs, i.e. security... ... Iranian proxies, and American support for Saudi armed action against the Houthi in Yemen. In this context, the Senate’s recent
decision
to cut off funding for Hezbollah... ... State Department approved the sale of over 19,000 smart bombs worth USD 1.29 billion Saudi Arabia to replenish its arsenal, which had been depleted by numerous counterterrorist...
... times. Yemen's geopolitical significance is beyond doubt, suffice it to mention its key position on commercial routes from the Red Sea across the Gulf of Aden to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.
REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah/Pixstream
Leonid Issaev:
Yemen: Following in Afghanistan’s Footsteps?
Second, Russia might obtain some kind of leverage on Saudi Arabia, which has not been friendly to Moscow for about 20 years. Moscow is well aware that the Saudis are seriously concerned about the region. It would be rational to consider creating some pressure on the
sworn friends
. At least, the Houthi ...