, Columnist
Middle East Is Frenemy Territory for U.S. and Russia
American allies and Moscow's friends all have good reasons to avoid taking sides in the Ukraine war. But neutrality has its risks, too.
Can we just not talk about Ukraine?
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Russia's invasion of Ukraine has put Middle Eastern friends of Washington and Moscow in difficult positions. Russia's allies, Syria and Iran, are backing it, but with trepidation. And U.S. allies in Israel and the Arab world haven’t been willing to clearly take Washington’s side.
The unfortunate truth from the perspective of both global powers is that no Middle Eastern country stands to gain from the confrontation.