In his article published on Wednesday in the Emirati newspaper Al-Ittihad, Maguid wrote that the relations between Russian and the Arab world are entering a new stage of unprecedented cooperation.
"For the first time, the relations between Russia and Arab countries are not shadowed by an open conflict or tensions," he underscored.
"The changes the world has gone through since the end of the Cold War paved the way for a gradual evolution in Russian-Arab relations. The turmoil the Arab world has seen over the last decade accelerated the process," the author said.
"While some Arab countries are supporting Moscow playing a more active role in settling conflicts in the region, Russia in turn is seeking to build deeper economic and military ties with the Arab world to help its economy overcome the consequences of Western anti-Russian sanctions and the global decline in oil prices," he added.
According to Maguid, the current situation is prefect for developing the relations between Russia and the Arab world.
Some countries are even considering Moscow as a future replacement for Washington, he claimed.
However, there are still some serious obstacles for that cooperation, and the main obstacle is "the special relationship between Moscow and Tehran," the analyst said.
"This question has now come up, and Russia’s relations with the Arab world would depend on the answer. Could Moscow play a major role in the settlement of some Arab conflicts which involve – openly or indirectly – Iran? Would Moscow be able to conduct a balanced policy in the region?" the author asked.
According to him, the Syrian conflict is the perfect stage to test Moscow’s readiness to distance itself from Iran.
"While many in the Arab world believe the relations with Russia is far from being trustworthy, others are sure Moscow will shift from its pro-Iran policy to promote cooperation with other Arab nations," the author concludes.
