Russia’s scepticism towards the Arab uprisings could have led to renewed estrangement between Russia and the Middle East, comparable to the situation after the invasion of Afghanistan and the fall of the ussr. Instead, the Syrian crisis, after the setback in Libya, has given Russia the opportunity to play a central role. Obviously, this reflects an evolution in Russia’s conception of its own territorial security. Since the beginning of the conflict, Moscow has claimed to be defending the state rather than the regime. This explains the widened acceptance of the word “terrorism.” For Moscow, disintegration of the state paves the way for transnational jihad that has already threatened Russia both within its borders (Chechnya) and without (Afghanistan).