Russia's not-so-romantic view on Arab Revolt

Responding to the unprecedented upheavals in the Middle East as well as North Africa, Russia has reportedly forewarned of the possibility of "disintegration of populous states" and "rise of fanatics to powers" in the Arab world. Although less dependent on the region for oil , Russia is still seriously concerned with (a) violent and/or separatist Islamists who may have their ideational sources or organisational bases in that part of the earth, and, (b) the inter- state security and defence on its southern periphery , especially vis-a-vis America. As a matter of fact, many, of the Western security arrangments as well as defence setups in the region, especially in Turkey and Egypt , have their origin in the 1950s and 1960s as a regional containment regime against the USSR. Although Russia' s geostrategic influence in the region has diminshed considerably after the disintegration of the USSR in 1991, there is an observation that it can still play a role as a major power in the areas. Evidently , Russia' s view on the massive upheavals in the Arab world is shared by, among others, America's allies in the region, like Israel.

Iran's warships sailing into Mediterranean Sea