Anyone watching Russia's recent Middle East diplomacy might conclude that it is trying to recapture the golden age of Soviet-Arab friendship. This month Syria's vice-president was in Moscow to talk about "closer relations", with hasty denials that Russia plans to help Syria build a nuclear reactor-as it is doing in Iran, with several more planned. Meanwhile Iraq said yes to deals with three Russian oil companies, including a previously cancelled project for Lukoil, Russia's second-biggest oil company, to develop the huge West Qurna-2 field. And Russian officials went to Saudi Arabia, huddling with OPEC to agree on oil output levels that will ensure a nice price for all.
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