Valdai Club

Alexander Bessmertnykh

Alena Bogomolova

Andrey Bezrukov

Evgeny Buzhinsky

Mathew Burrows

Wu Bingbing

Dmitry Belousov

Stephan Barisitz

Svetlana Babayeva

Andrei Baklanov

Russian Federation

Head of the Middle East and North Africa Studies Section, HSE University.

Materials

Russia and Iran: New Mechanisms for Regional Security and Cooperation

Iran respects the "inclusive" approach toward the formation of a circle of participants in the future system of a new regional order, including the Russian initiative to create a regional security system in the Persian Gulf region, writes Andrey Baklanov, professor at the Higher School of Economics and Deputy Chairman of the Association of Russian Diplomats.

UAE — Israel: Region Needs a New Madrid Protocol

The stable development of the Middle East requires a coherent internationally-recognised base for the emerging security and interaction system. Apparently, it is necessary to begin the difficult, but inevitable work of preparing a “new Madrid”, which would develop new “rules of the game,” writes Andrei Baklanov, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Diplomats’ Association.

Idlib: When the Objectives of the Parties Do Not Coincide

Both American and Russian experts agreed that the outcome of the “battle for Idlib” would determine the nature of the entire final stage of the Syrian crisis, including the degree of involvement of such countries as Turkey, Russia, Iran, the USA, and the EU states.

Intensification of Tension in the Persian Gulf

The Americans are consistently aggravating the situation in the Gulf. The basis of their line of argument is the desire to maintain the current level of military supplies to the region, which amount to approximately 65% of total arms purchases by the Gulf countries.

Iran Moving out of JCPOA?

Tehran has decided to go ahead with the third phase of curtailing Iran’s obligations under the JCPOA. It seems that this step could lead to negative consequences: the further escalation of the situation around Iran, and in the region as a whole.

Security in the Gulf Area: Russia’s New Initiative

Russia is conducting relevant work in this direction and is ready to provide a platform for negotiations between the nations of the Middle East. The key question is whether the region’s politicians are aware of the danger of the situation, and whether they are ready to stop accusing each other and start a dialogue.

Russia-Iran Relations: We Must Shift the Focus Away From Oil

If we consider the scale of global economy and energy, including deliveries, we’ll see that Iran’s share in global oil production is quite moderate at 1 or 2 percent of the total.

Interested Countries Must Unite to Balance the Oil Price Level

The arrangement between Saudi Arabia and Russia to freeze the volume of oil production at the level of January, 2016 can improve the situation in the oil market and strengthen the price policy.

Who Stands to Lose From the Syrian Ceasefire?

Saudi Arabia has demonstrated its dissatisfaction with the Russian-American deal on ceasefire in Syria, the Valdai Club experts believe.

Syria: Four Years of War and the Situation in the Region

The results of the last four years have been tragic for Syria: tens of thousands have been killed and wounded, over two million made refugees, many cities brought to ruins, and the country is still in the throes of a grave economic and humanitarian crisis.

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