Determinants of Russian Foreign Policy in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

The Study discusses the EastMed region’s importance in the thrusts of Russian foreign policy, recently Russia has become one of the most important geopolitical players in the EastMed. Russia seeks finding a foothold in the region, in order to re-establish itself as a great power and assume a new global role led by Putin, who has adopted a strategy that serves Russia's interests. The Russian move in this region was according to the determinants of its foreign policy, some of which are represented in the Russian geography and its access to warm-water ports, and it has a common cultural heritage in Orthodox Christianity and the region is also rich in many natural resources such as oil and gas reserves, which makes it an important player in the global energy map, whether in terms of production, export or terms of control transport Pipelines natural gas.
Historically, Russia had an influence in the EastMed, this region was the scene of the ideological struggle between the two poles during the Cold War.Since the onset of the second decade of the 21st century, Russian policy towards the EastMed has depended on its ability to combine elements of soft and hard power: such as the military intervention in Syria in 2015, or economic policies, given that this region is a suitable market for Russian weapons in addition to the role of Russian natural gas companies.So, Russia’s current policies in the EastMed can be seen as part of a pattern aimed at enhancing its power globally.