Russia and the new security system in the Persian Gulf: Approach and strategy

Abstract

The region of the Persian Gulf, which is strategically important for the whole world, is experiencing extremely alarming trends. Ensuring security in the strategically important area of the Persian Gulf is one of the key regional problems of our time. Over the past decades, tensions have not subsided in the Persian Gulf zone. This negatively affects security, political and economic stability in the region and in the world. In the meantime, Russia maintains traditionally friendly relations with all the countries of the Persian Gulf region without exception, and builds interaction with them on an equal and mutually respectful basis. The Russian concept of security in the Persian Gulf zone, which provides for the priority of regional cooperation and the participation of neighbors, instead of focusing on non-regional players, can be effective in ensuring peace and de-escalation, which at the same time faces various problems. The main question is what is Russia's approach and strategy to the security of the Persian Gulf region. Russia seeks to create a Long-term and lasting peace in the Persian Gulf Region by providing a concept of collective security and tries to act as a mediator. Back in the late 1990s, in completely different geopolitical realities, Russia began to develop the Concept of ensuring collective security in the Persian Gulf zone. The ideas outlined in the document have been updated several times, acquiring a new, relevant sound in the current circumstances. The concept presupposes a phased advance, based on equal interaction of all regional and other interested parties, towards unblocking conflict situations, developing confidence-building measures and control, and, ultimately, forming an integral mechanism of collective security and cooperation in this sub region with the creation of appropriate organizational structures. Russia's strategy for the security of the Persian Gulf is to replace the US plan and cooperate with all influential actors in the region.