On February 13, at 4 pm, the Valdai Discussion Club will hold a press briefing for journalists on the eve of the conference, titled “Russia in the Middle East: Playing on All Fields”.

       Russia’s policy in the Middle East, where the international relations are particularly complex and unpredictable, attracts a special attention. Moscow succeeded in using a variety of military and diplomatic methods to gain prestige and respect in the region where many global players have repeatedly suffered defeats. By playing “on all fields,” Russia was able to maintain working relations with different forces, sometimes despite fierce criticism. Russia successfully collaborates with Israel and Hezbollah, with Iran and Saudi Arabia, with the government and opposition in Syria, with the government in Tripoli, with the House of Representatives in Tobruk and tribes in southern Libya, with Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Military presence in the region at the same time becomes an important lever of influence, allowing the Kremlin to pursue a multi-vector policy, which became a visiting card of the Russian Federation in the Middle East.

       Moderator:

       Ivan Timofeev, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club

       Speakers:

       Andrey Bystritskiy, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club

       Vitaly Naumkin, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Scientific Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences

       Working languages: Russian, English

       Information for the media! To attend, please fill out the accreditation form or call +7 926 930 77 63.