Sudan, Russia sign trade deals as Khartoum seeks funds, Moscow eyes Red Sea port The meeting in Moscow produced two agreements and an economic and trade cooperation protocol. Sudan
Russia, Iran sign deal to build small nuclear power plants: What to know As Iran grapples with energy shortages and renewed sanctions pressure, Tehran and Moscow signed a memorandum Wednesday to expand nuclear cooperation through the construction of small nuclear power plants. Iran
UK’s top spy uses farewell from Turkey to lure Russian recruits, sparks fury The outgoing MI6 chief called on Russians with "truths to share" to contact the agency, sparking diplomatic unease just days before Erdogan’s White House meeting. Turkey
Iran's nuclear chief in Moscow, eyes nuclear power plant deal with Russia Mohammad Eslami’s visit comes just a week after Russia’s energy minister was in Tehran, and a month after the CEO of Rosatom confirmed ongoing negotiations with Iran to build new nuclear plants in the country. Iran
Analysis After setbacks in Syria and Turkish gains in Libya, Russia scrambles to retain Mediterranean sway By Anton Mardasov
Russia’s 'multilayered pie’ policy on Libya For all the uncertainty surrounding Russia's presence in Libya, there are some policy drivers to be watched. Turkey
Turkey’s Kurdish sweep backfires President Erdogan’s Syria plan has had unintended ramifications: Saudi Arabia and the UAE are now cozying up to the Kurds, the Kurds are uniting, and the Russians are guiding the solutions on the ground. Syria
Erdogan in NATO: Russia’s ‘Trojan horse’? President Recep Tayyip Erdogan returned from London to Ankara as a “loser” who failed to achieve anything at the NATO summit. Turkey
Syria’s Kurdish parties do not see eye to eye While Syria's Kurds call for a unified political project to manage Kurdish territories, they remain confused about the differences between the Kurdish National Council and the Syrian Democratic Forces. Syria
Erdogan to hold up NATO plan unless allies recognize terror threats against Turkey Seeking a terror designation for Kurdish forces in Syria, the Turkish president has reaffirmed his threat to block a NATO defense plan for the Baltic nations and Poland as the London summit commences. Syria
Intel: How Russia is changing course in Syria Putin’s Special Envoy to Syria Alexander Lavrentyev and Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin traveled to Damascus Dec. 2 to meet with President Bashar al-Assad. Syria
Syrian front lines heat up, especially in Idlib province Syrian government forces have intensified their attacks in Idlib, the country’s last opposition stronghold. Syria
Report: China, Russia worried about militants' return from Syria Beijing and Moscow are concerned that citizens who left to fight with jihadi groups in Syria could stoke radicalization at home following their return. Syria
Turkey flirts with buying even more Russian missile systems Turkey seems to be offering a compromise to the United States to avoid sanctions for Ankara's purchase of Russian S-400 fighter jets — even as Turkey is in talks to buy more. Turkey
Turkey bets on NATO as escape route in S-400 crisis In a move to buy time, Erdogan is taking the S-400 crisis to NATO grounds, as Ankara’s testing of the Russian-made system the week before a NATO summit shows Ankara still has maneuvering room. Syria
Will Egypt heed US threat of sanctions for Russian jet deal? A $2 billion arms deal between Russia and Egypt has caused the United States to warn Egypt against acquiring Russia’s Su-35 fighter jets, raising questions about whether Egypt will carry on with the deal. Egypt
Russia, Palestine seek to upgrade relationship While commemorating over four decades of relations, Russia seeks to strengthen cultural ties with Palestine. Palestine