The Concept of Balanced Friendship: Russia-Israel Relations in the Context of the Gaza War

Mihajlović Maša (), masamb11@gmail.com

This paper examines the complex dynamics of Russia-Israel relations through the lens of the concept of “balanced friendship” as a key to understanding their contemporary relations, with a particular focus on the impact of the Gaza war on these relations. The dynamics of Russia-Israel relations reflect the ability of both states to maintain stable relations while often balancing between their own goals and mutual recognition of each other\'s interests. The seriousness of the current situation caused by the Gaza war has certainly tested the limits of this bilateral relationship and redefined the priorities of their cooperation. The first part of the paper analyses the concept of friendship in international relations theory, applied to the relationship between Russia and Israel, highlighting the historical, economic, social, and security aspects that enabled the development of this specific relationship. The paper then turns to the concept of balancing, emphasising how the conflicting regional interests and different allied networks of Russia and Israel have led to the development of relations that combine cooperation and rivalry. In the third part, the paper examines how events following the start of the Gaza war have altered the dynamics of these relations, emphasising the need for clearer positioning of the two states\' stances. The paper\'s starting assumption is that the Gaza war has had a negative impact on Russia-Israel relations, manifesting in more intense balancing and suppression of the elements of friendship. The current situation in the Middle East indicates that regional instability, along with growing geopolitical tensions, has redefined the priorities and strategic calculations of both sides, raising questions about the sustainability of their balanced friendship. To this end, a qualitative methodological approach, primarily through discourse analysis, will be used to review official documents from both states, statements by state officials, and publicly available information on Russia-Israel relations.

Keywords: Russia, Israel, Gaza war, concept of balanced friendship, Middle East.