چکیده:
This article tries to analyse the goals Russia pursues by trying to develop arms trade with
the MENA region and the implications of this approach for the region. The article argues
that Russia’s goals can be divided into two general categories of economic and strategic
objectives. Although in the short term, the implications of this approach for MENA is
fomenting arms race in the region and the increased possibility of proxy wars, this process
can in the long term turn into a contributing factor in stabilizing the balance of power in the
region between the US allies and anti-American governments. A qualitative method based
on the description and analysis of trends has been adopted in this article. Although
statistical data on Russia’s arms sales is taken into consideration and analysed here as well,
the nature of the study and the basis of final analysis remain qualitative. An inductive
approach will have been used in this article and it is tried to take advantage of the collected
data in order to achieve a proper pattern for analyzing the objectives and implications of
Russia’s arms trade approach in MENA.
خلاصه ماشینی:
Russian arms exports to selected MENA countries County/Year 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total Algeria 795 246 118 502 1553 795 4009 Egypt 68 27 70 6 178 1111 1459 Iran 15 22 4 4 398 4 447 Iraq N/A 51 301 420 300 N/A 1072 Syria 341 341 2 16 N/A 22 720 UAE 90 90 N/A N/A N/A N/A 180 Source: SIPRI Given the above-mentioned points, this article tries to address the question as to what goals Russia pursues by trying to develop arms trade with the MENA region and what are the implications of this approach for the region.
In this vein, although de-ideologization and the preference of interests on values formed the basis of Russia’s arms trade policy also during the Yeltsin era, the second aspect caused strategic and geopolitical considerations to play an important role in determining thetransfer ornon-transfer as well as destinations of Russian arms.
The third most striking feature of the new Russian arms trade approach was refusingto transfer advanced military technologies to the countries that could themselves turn into a challenge for Russia in the future.
When it comes to Russia’s arms trade with MENA, this economic consideration can clearly explain why Moscow is interested in developing ties with all countries of the region, regardless of their foreign policy orientations or the regional and international alignments.
org/publication/russias-role- arms-exporter-strategic-and-economic-importance-arms-exports-russia (accessed on: 20/11/2017) -Detsch, Jack (2017), “US Missile Defense Sale to Saudis Seen as Effort to Thwart Russia’, Al-Monitor, 9/10/2017, available at: https://www.