Russia’s Role in the Red Sea and the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: A Look into Moscow’s Middle Eastern Diplomacy

Moscow recently met with a delegation of Yemeni Houthis from the Ansar Allah movement to discuss the escalation of the situation in the Red Sea and the dynamics of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone. The meeting was led by Russian Special Representative Mikhail Bogdanov, who is also Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and headed by official representative Muhammad Abdel Salam.

During the meeting, Bogdanov emphasized Russia’s condemnation of ongoing strikes on Yemen by the United States and Great Britain for violating the UN Charter. However, it is worth noting that Moscow does not condemn the actions of Yemeni Houthi rebels who have been attacking civilian ships in the Red Sea and launching drones and missiles towards Israel.

A week before this meeting, Bogdanov received a delegation from Hamas in Moscow. Likewise, Russian authorities do not label this organization as terrorist. This interaction highlights Russia’s approach to the complex political landscape in the Middle East and Africa, where alliances often shift based on strategic interests and regional dynamics.