Putin Embarrassed as Arab Summit Cancelled, Russia’s Influence Fades in the Middle East

Darwin, 16 October-

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s planned “Russia–Arab World Summit” has been abruptly cancelled, dealing a major diplomatic blow to Moscow’s efforts to project power in the Middle East.

According to a report by The Guardian, the high-profile summit—scheduled to be held in Moscow on Wednesday—was intended to strengthen Russia’s ties with Arab nations in energy, security, and geopolitical cooperation. However, with most Arab leaders declining to attend, the Kremlin was forced to postpone the event.

Only Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit had confirmed their participation. The cancellation, analysts say, underscores the waning influence of Russia in the Middle East since its invasion of Ukraine.

In stark contrast, global attention on Monday turned to the Gaza Peace Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where U.S. President Donald Trump, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and several Middle Eastern leaders gathered to discuss a long-term ceasefire between Israel and Palestine. Russia, notably, was not invited to the talks.

Political analyst Hanna Notte, an expert on Russian foreign policy based in Germany, told The Guardian:

> “Russia’s diplomatic role in the Middle East has diminished dramatically since the war in Ukraine. No one looks to Moscow anymore when major regional decisions are made.”

In 2015, Russia’s military intervention in the Syrian civil war saved President Bashar al-Assad’s regime from collapse and marked Moscow’s return as a key regional power. But following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, that military and diplomatic influence has steadily eroded.

Syria’s regional leverage has weakened, Iran—Moscow’s key ally—has faced repeated Israeli strikes, and Russia’s once-close relationship with Israel has soured. Despite its ties with Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, Moscow has played no meaningful role in the ongoing Gaza ceasefire process.

Putin later claimed he had personally decided to postpone the summit “to avoid interfering with the Gaza peace process.” Speaking during a visit to Tajikistan on Friday, he said,

> “If President Trump succeeds in implementing his plan, it will be a historic achievement.”

Yet signs of frustration are clear among Russian diplomats. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow remains “ready to participate if invited” but will not “force its presence.” Meanwhile, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, dismissed Trump’s peace efforts as “meaningless,” adding that true peace is impossible without a recognized Palestinian state.

Experts note that Russia’s declining influence extends beyond the Middle East, reaching Central Asia and the Caucasus. Traditional allies such as Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Azerbaijan are increasingly distancing themselves from Moscow.

In August, President Trump hosted the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House, mediating a new peace accord that included the creation of the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity”—a trade corridor linking Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan region to Turkey via Armenia. Both leaders later attended the Gaza Peace Summit in Egypt, where Putin was absent.

The Kremlin now says the Russia–Arab World Summit may be rescheduled for November. But experts believe the event will serve merely as a symbolic attempt to show Moscow is not isolated.

As analyst Hanna Notte put it:

> “This summit is more about preserving Russia’s diplomatic image than real influence. In today’s Middle East, it’s Washington—not Moscow—that holds the center of gravity.”