Dr. Nicu Popescu leads the Wider Europe program at ECFR. Between May-December 2019, he served Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova. He is author of the EU Foreign Policy and Post-Soviet Conflicts: Stealth Intervention( 2010) and co-editor of Democratization in EU Foreign Policy (2015). Dr. Dimitar Bechev is Research Fellow at UNC Chapel Hill as well as Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C. Amongst his publications are Rival Power: Russia in Southeast Europe (2017) and Mediterranean Frontiers (2010, co-edited with Kalypso Nicolaidis). Dr. Stanislav Secrieru is Senior Analyst at the EU Institute for Security Studies where he covers Russian foreign and security policy. Prior to that, he held position with the Polish Institute of International Affairs and the Open Society European Policy Institute.
A thoughtful, incisive and deeply informed assessment of Russia in the Middle East by a remarkable team of brilliant researchers. Both detailed and balanced, this volume is an invaluable resource for statesmen and scholars - an indispensable contribution on a topic of major and continuing importance. * R.D. Hooker Jr. , The Atlantic Council, former Special Assistant to the President for European and Russian Affairs * A timely volume that connects the history of Soviet policy in the Middle East with Russia's present engagement in the region. * Dr Roham Alvandi, Associate Professor of International History at the London School of Economics and Political Science * Russia Rising is a brilliant book. It tells how Russia defended its friend Bashar al-Assad against his people - a piece of armed diplomacy from the 19th century - and made itself an important player in the Middle East. Where others fear to tread, Russia sends planes and mercenaries. This is a book of facts, not of opinions or predictions. That is the best starting place for policy. A must for anyone interested in Russia or the Middle East. * Sir Robert Cooper, former British and European diplomat, who served as Advisor to EU High Representatives, Javier Solana and Cathy Ashton; author of The Ambassadors and The Breaking of Nations * A thoughtful and informative analysis of the changing Russia's activities in the MENA area. The authors demonstrate that there is no 'one size fits all' Moscow strategy in the region; instead, every case of the Kremlin's engagement - from Iran to Libya and from Syria to the Gulf - is based on a complex combination of history, geopolitics, economics and specific institutional interests. An important source for all interested in Russia's foreign policy. * Andrey Kortunov, Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council * Russia Rising - a new way of looking at Russia's journey to relevance post Cold War. This is a thoroughly readable and interesting review of Russia's involvement in the Middle East and Northern Africa as they capitalize on western missteps in a steady climb back on the world stage. The editors bring together insightful work that really gets it right! The contributing authors are on point! * General Phil Breedlove USAF (Ret), Distinguished Professor, Sam Nunn School at Georgia Tech, USA * The rise of Russian power in a turbulent Middle East has been one of the most striking changes of the past decade, and this book gives an admirably thorough, balanced and critical guide to it. In a wide-ranging collection, it illuminates the complexities, contradictions and occasional weaknesses as well as the successes and strengths of Putin's multilayered strategies in a region which still plays a pivotal role in global politics. * William Hale, Professor Emeritus, SOAS University of London, UK *