Over the last years, the myth of a Russian “return” to the MENA region after a prolonged period of quasi-absence has captured increasing attention by policy makers and the scientific community. In particular, since late September 2015, the Russian military intervention in Syria has prompted the rise of expectations and speculations on Moscow’s intentions to impose itself as a central actor able to affect the course of events in the broader Middle East.

While some observers have pointed at the new “Russian moment” as mere opportunism,  others have attributed its interventionism to a proper and broader strategy, a sort of “grand plan” of the Kremlin for the MENA region.

This workshop examined whether the Russian presence in the MENA region was temporary or whether it would last,  how was the Russian presence influencing the balance of power in the region, as well as how it was perceived by the citizens in the region and the EU.

The workshop was organised in the framework of EuroMeSCo ENI Project, co-funded by the European Commission and the IEMed.