Analyzing Russia's Strategy Towards the Middle East Under Vladimir Putin from a Multidimensional Perspective

This paper adopts a multi-level analysis approach and comprehensively analyzes the motivations behind Russia's Middle East strategy in the Putin era from three dimensions: decision-maker's individual factors, domestic factors, and international factors. At the individual level, Putin's nationalism and traditional values determine his tough attitude to rebuild Russia's strength and influence in the Middle East. At the domestic level, the improvement of Russia's economic power lays the foundation for its return to the Middle East; and the rivalry between different political factions pushes the formation of a Middle East strategy that is both tough and flexible. At the international level, the relative withdrawal of the United States from the Middle East provides Russia with strategic opportunities; based on the strategic game realities with the United States and the European Union, Russia carries out flexible and multi-lateral strategic cooperation with Middle Eastern countries. Russia's Middle East strategy in the Putin era is the result of multiple factors, reflecting Russia's complex positioning and multiple roles in the Middle East.