Strategic Pragmatism in Russia’s Relations with Turkey (Alireza Noori, Iran Review)

http://www.iranreview.org/content/Documents/Strategic-Pragmatism-in-Russia-s-Relations-with-Turkey.htm

Strategic Pragmatism in Russia’s Relations with Turkey (Alireza Noori, Iran Review)

http://www.iranreview.org/content/Documents/Strategic-Pragmatism-in-Russia-s-Relations-with-Turkey.htm

Tactical Changes in Russia’s Foreign Policy and Iran's Caution (Alireza Noori, Iran Review)

Turkey’s readiness to restore relations with Moscow, Britain’s exit from the European Union, circulation of some rumors on the Green Continent about the need to revise relations with the Kremlin, increased willingness among Middle Eastern countries to develop relations with Russia, and forthcoming changes in the White House are all new opportunities, which provide Moscow with more options and more expanded maneuvering space in its foreign policy. Adoption of a pragmatic approach, on the other hand, makes it possible for the Kremlin from both theoretical and practical standpoints to make the most of these opportunities. Russia’s pragmatism is based on such principles as involvement in a positive game with all sides, the necessity of usefulness of action, the effectiveness of reaction, avoiding useless belligerence, strategic opportunism, as well as multitier and resilient identity. Within framework of this approach and to make it operational, effort is being made to create adequate maneuvering room for making tactical changes and taking the most advantage of the smallest opportunities.

http://www.iranreview.org/content/Documents/Tactical-Changes-in-Russia-s-Foreign-Policy-and-Iran-s-Caution.htm

Iran and the Principle of Balance and Containment in Russia's Middle East Policy (Alireza Noori, Iran Review)

Although Russia is very much different from its Soviet predecessor and its current assets do not allow for all-out competition or rivalry with the West, the issue of maintaining the “balance” is still important to it from the viewpoint of both security and identity. Russia's seriousness about this principle can be seen in the hard way that Moscow has taken to counter eastward expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), deployment of the United States’ anti-missile shield in Europe, Washington’s encroachment on the Commonwealth of Independent States (CSI), and West’s expansionist policies in the Middle East. The most important goals of this approach include maintaining Russia's position as a “big power,” preventing the balance of powers from tilting toward the West in international arrangements, and bolstering Russia's geopolitical advantages. However, balance-making is not solely limited to large-scale relations with the West and Moscow has put this necessity on its agenda, of course, on a lower level, when regulating its relations in other regions, including in the Middle East.

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Alireza Noori. P.h.D. Student, Saint Petersburg State University & Expert on Russian Affairs