Russia trying to secure ‘additional influence' in the Middle East with Iran partnership
ANU Strategic & Defence Studies Centre Visiting Fellow Dr Matthew Sussex says Russia has been 'amping up' its relationship with Russia for quite some time now.
This comes after Russia and Iran signed a new strategic partnership to seal their alliance at the beginning of this year.
'Part of the reason for that is because its sought Iranian help for providing it with Shahed drones which it uses in a very large number to attack critical infrastructure and civilian targets in its war against Ukraine,' Mr Sussex told Sky News Australia.
'More than that, it's to try and get additional influence within the Middle East and Russia has lost of course significant influence when it came to Syria just last year.'
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