ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates European perceptions of the actions undertaken by Russia in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, particularly following Russia’s 2015 intervention in Syria. Over the past few years – and especially after the annexation of Crimea in 2014 – relations between Russia, on one side, and the European Union (EU) and many EU member states, on the other, have worsened and room for cooperation has considerably shrunk. The MENA region could represent yet another area of potential friction, but it may also offer some opportunities for cooperation. The chapter takes into account perceptions of both the EU institutions (the European External Action Service, the European Commission and the European Parliament) and three key EU member states (Italy, France, and Germany) that are particularly active in the region, through an analysis of official documents and semi-structured interviews with selected EU and national officials. The ultimate goal of the chapter is to analyze European perceptions of Russia’s military and political-diplomatic presence in the area and evaluate the compatibility of Moscow’s presence therein with the Brussels’s goals and interests.
