Russian Policy Towards Africa and the Near East

This issue of the Russian Analytical Digest discusses Russia's policy towards Africa and the Near East. First, Mark Katz argues that Russia's active foreign policy in the Near East should be regarded as a prudent policy aimed at reducing tensions on its southern borders rather than an assertion of great power. Second, Vladimir Shubin argues that Russia is placing increasing priority on relations with African countries. The author suggests that an important challenge for these relationships is to improve economic trade links to match the recent increase in political interaction.