When Gorbachev assumed power in the USSR, he inherited a Middle East policy which had isolated the Soviets from the Arab mainstream, tied to Syria and Libya. Moscow’s policies in the region had been based on the zero‐sum concept of reduction of American influence and exploitation of the Arab‐Israeli impasse. The Soviets are now more concerned with regional stability, proliferation of high‐technology weapons systems, and Islamic fundamentalism. The Soviets now seek to confirm their tarnished superpower status through participation in the Middle East peace process, thereby enhancing Gorbachev’s peacemaker image in the West. The Soviets also hope to maintain the current level of hard‐currency arms sales to the Arab world and to expand trade in the region. Gorbachev may find it necessary to reorder Soviet priorities in the Middle East dramatically in order to avoid further loss of influence in the region. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Defense, or the U.S. government or any of its agencies. © 1990 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
