... International Affairs Council as part of the RIAC’s project on «Conflicts in the Middle East: Tools and Strategies for Settlement». This paper is devoted to analyzing the situation in the oil and gas market in Iraq and Syria, as well as the energy policy of Russia in the Arab Mashreq region. The authors also analyze Iraq’s oil prospects in the post-war period under sanctions against Iran. Special attention is paid to the Kurdish factor and the role the Kurds play in the future of energy in the region, the possibility of subregional integration in the Arab Mashreq and the increasing influence of Russian energy companies in regards to gas projects located in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Russia’s Interests ...
Working Paper #46 / 2019
This working paper looks into the complex issue of Russia–Iraq relations. It provides a detailed analysis of the foundations of the bilateral ties between the two countries, Russia’s approach to the Kurdish issue, and the future of cooperation between Russia and Iraq now that both countries have completed ...
... the KRI’s oil and natural gas export pipelines via Turkey.
These developments have been very welcome, particularly by the Kurds, not only for the generated income but also for drawing Russia into the security dynamics which was believed to have helped prevent a total energy blockade on the KRI in the aftermath of the KRG referendum for independence.
What is the attitude of the major forces in Iraqi Kurdistan to Russia's policy in the region? How can the parties develop their relations while still taking into consideration ...
... the country.
Proposals on Building a Regional Security System in West Asia and North Africa
The USSR’s interaction with Iraqi Kurds was particularly active during the Iraqi crisis of the 1960s–1970s. The USSR acted as an intermediary between the Kurds led by Barzani and President of Iraq Saddam Hussein. Russian scholars have written a number of papers on the era. In particular, Yevgeny Primakov stressed the special significance of Russia–Kurd relations in his memoires. Primakov did a lot of work in the area, meeting with both President Saddam Hussein ...
