The Russian-Arab Summit that had been scheduled for 15 October has been postponed. Speaking on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he agreed with the prime minister of Iraq, which currently holds the presidency of the Arab League Council, to postpone the meeting between Russia and the League.
“I do not want to interfere with the process that we hope has now been established and is underway at Trump’s initiative and with his direct participation in the Middle East,” Putin said, in reference to steps towards the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s peace plan in Gaza.
While a statement by the Kremlin said the summit has been put off until a “later date to be agreed upon”, Foreign Policy Adviser to President Putin Yury Ushakov has been quoted as saying that Moscow is “tentatively aiming for November.”
This first Russian-Arab Summit marks the culmination of significant developments in Russian-Arab relations, which have witnessed significant progress across various political, economic, and cultural levels in recent years. It is expected to discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest, as well as to explore ways to enhance cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, security, and energy.
Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Egypt Georgiy Borisenko told Al-Ahram Weekly in an interview that Russia’s relations with the Arab world are solid, pointing particularly to Egypt as a pivotal country in the region.
What are the key objectives of the upcoming Russian-Arab Summit?
We have very good relations with the Arab world, and we want to show to the whole world how synchronised the stances of Russia and the Arab countries are. The situation in the world is very tense, and it’s very important for like-minded countries and like-minded regions to stick together and show the world an example of good coordination and of goodwill in solving acute problems.
More than half of the Arab countries have confirmed their participation. Two-thirds of the leaders of the Arab nations are ready to come to Moscow for the summit.
The Palestinian cause, and many other issues of importance, both for Russia and for our Arab friends, will be discussed.
How do you see the summit shaping future cooperation between Russia and the Arab countries?
We really believe that we have a shared future and that we live in a world that is totally interconnected. It will be very important for the heads of Russia and the Arab countries to exchange opinions and discuss what they think about different events and to coordinate their positions. We have a largely similar approach to all the major events around the globe, and specifically to events related to the Middle East and North Africa. It will be very important to show this unity and constructive cooperation to the whole world.
What role do you think the summit will play in addressing regional challenges and conflicts?
All regional conflicts will be discussed at the summit. Russia and the Arab countries share the same approach to all the major problems of the region.
The summit will discuss the Palestinian cause as the major problem of the region. It will be a common position that we should implement the decision of the United Nations regarding the creation of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state. This is the only option for achieving peace in the region and for fulfilling the will of the Palestinian people.
All the other problems of the region will be discussed, including those of Sudan, Lebanon, Yemen, and Libya. All the participants will have the opportunity to raise any issue they want. The world is becoming multipolar, and we need to find our places in this changing global world order.
How do you view the reaching of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas?
Russia welcomes the peace agreement between Israel and Hamas, which was reached through international mediation. We particularly commend Egypt for its efforts, which not only provided a platform for the final round of the negotiations but also made a significant intellectual contribution to the discussion of the parameters for a resolution to the conflict. Cairo has once again confirmed its significant role not only in Middle Eastern affairs but also in addressing global issues.
We hope that with the resolution of these issues, long-awaited peace will return to the Gaza Strip and throughout the Palestinian territories. We expect these agreements to be an important step towards achieving the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, as decided by the UN back in 1947.
Since the very beginning of this awful catastrophe in the Gaza Strip two years ago, Russia has introduced many resolutions to the UN Security Council demanding a halt to the military actions by Israel in the Gaza Strip. Unfortunately, all these resolutions were blocked by the Western nations. We are ready to support everything that is of benefit for the Palestinian people and the people of the other Arab countries.
What role can Russia play in promoting regional stability?
For Russia, it’s very important to have a stable and secure Middle East and North Africa. Egypt is a traditional gateway for us to Africa and the Middle East. Instability in the Middle East causes major global problems. It’s necessary to take all the needed actions to achieve peaceful solutions to the crises in the region, including the situations in Libya, Sudan, and Syria.
Will there be new cooperation in the areas of security and the military with Arab countries?
We have a long tradition of military cooperation and military technical cooperation between Russia and the Arab community. This tradition started back in the 1950s, first of all with Egypt and Algeria and then with some other countries. We are developing such ties in the military field. For instance, every year we hold naval exercises between Russia and Egypt near Alexandria. We also hold joint exercises between our air forces and air defence forces.
To what extent are Russia and Arab states shaping a multipolar global order?
Many Arab countries share our vision of multipolarity. For instance, Egypt, when it joined the BRICS group of nations, said that the future belongs to the multipolar world.
There are many new poles of influence in the world. This is not only the world of the United States and the G7. There are many new rising economies that are playing a much more important role. The GDP of the BRICS countries is higher than that of the G7, for example.
The BRICS will determine the future global trends in the economy and also in the political sphere. Most of our Arab friends understand these global changes.
The BRICS expanded recently, and right now we have 11 members. Saudi Arabia is still thinking about its full participation. But there are 10 countries that are actively working in the BRICS, and there are many other countries that have asked for membership.
What initiatives or programmes exist to promote cultural exchange between Russia and Arab countries?
There are many forms of traditional cultural exchange between Russia and Arab countries. We have many joint cultural activities. Russian museums are in touch with the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, the Coptic Museum in Cairo, and with some other Egyptian museums about facilitating exhibitions in Russia together with Egyptian museums, for example.
In May each year, we hold the Russia-Islamic World Economic Forum in Kazan in Russia. Kazan is the capital of Tatarstan, a mostly Muslim region of Russia with a large Muslim population. Approximately 15 per cent of Russians are also Muslims.
In many Arab countries, there are Russian cultural centres as well as Russian dance groups or Russian opera companies. Various Russian opera companies often already go to different Arab countries to perform there.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 16 October, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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