Russia Struggles for a New World Order—Where Are Israel and the Muslim World Positioned?

Key Findings:

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the bipolar world order, Russia lost its superpower status and found itself in a unipolar system dominated by the United States. By the mid-1990s, Russia began promoting the idea of a shift to a multipolar world—one with multiple centers of power—in which it would reclaim a position akin to that of a superpower alongside countries like China and the U.S. This worldview became central under President Putin and was repeatedly emphasized in Russia’s official foreign policy documents. The 2022 invasion of Ukraine further intensified Russia’s commitment to this idea. However, despite its prominence in Russian discourse, the concept of a multipolar world order remains vague, inconsistent, and riddled with contradictions. There is no clear definition of how many poles exist, which countries belong to each, or who leads them.

Russia envisions itself at the head of a Eurasian pole, uniting former Soviet republics, though the composition and role of these countries—especially Ukraine—remain undefined. The U.S. and its allies are labeled the "Anglo-Saxon" or "Western" pole, considered hostile. China is presumed to lead an East Asian pole, though its structure is unclear. Russia also places strategic emphasis on the Arab and broader Muslim world as key allies in counterbalancing the West, although leadership within this "Muslim pole" is undefined. An African pole is occasionally mentioned, and there is vague talk of other poles composed of countries or even regional organizations such as BRICS, the African Union, or ASEAN. This lack of clarity serves Russian interests by avoiding conflict over pole composition, while enabling flexible partnerships.

Despite its conceptual weaknesses, the idea of a multipolar world informs Russia’s foreign policy, especially toward Israel. Russia increasingly aligns with Arab and Muslim countries as part of its broader challenge to Western dominance. It is essential to understand Moscow’s positioning alongside Israel’s adversaries, especially after the October 7 Hamas attack, and to shape Israel’s future policy toward Russia.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is seen by Moscow as a turning point in global affairs, marking the beginning of a prolonged struggle between a declining unipolar world led by the United States and an emerging multipolar world order. Russia portrays the war not just as a conflict with Ukraine but as a broader battle against Western dominance. This framing is central to Russia's foreign policy, particularly in its 2023 strategic doctrine, which accuses the West of neocolonialism and of using tools like sanctions, military interventions, and political manipulation to retain global control. The U.S. is regarded to be deliberately inciting instability—such as in the Middle East and Taiwan—to block the rise of alternative powers.

In this narrative, Israel is characterized as an extension of U.S. power and part of the hostile Western bloc. Since the October 7 Hamas attack, Russia has adopted an increasingly antagonistic stance toward Israel, aligning more openly with Israel’s adversaries, including Iran and Hamas. This shift is evident in Russian propaganda and public messaging, which depict Israel negatively and emphasize Muslim world solidarity against Western aggression. The Muslim world is positioned in Russian discourse as a single, cooperative bloc—despite its internal divisions—and is viewed as a key partner in reshaping the global order. Russia sees growing anti-Western sentiment in the Middle East, driven by past U.S. interventions, as a strategic opportunity to strengthen ties with countries such as Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.

Iran, in particular, has become a central ally, providing military support to Russia and deepening strategic cooperation since the Ukraine war began. For Moscow, fostering relations with Muslim countries offers a pathway to undermine the Western-led system and expand its influence. In contrast, relations with Israel are viewed as less valuable and increasingly expendable. Despite Israel's cautious approach toward Russia and attempts to maintain neutrality, Russia firmly places it in the adversarial Western camp. The implications for Israel are significant: its enemies are becoming more deeply entwined with Russia, and Moscow’s alignment with anti-Israel actors is likely to intensify.

Israel must reassess its policy toward Russia. Efforts to avoid upsetting Moscow have not altered its fundamental position in Russian strategic thinking. It is crucial to understand Russia’s worldview—particularly the centrality of the multipolar order concept and the elevation of the Muslim world within it. Israel should prepare for a continued and possibly escalating Russian alignment with its adversaries, especially as the war in Ukraine continues to drive Russia’s search for non-Western allies.