Mutiny at home weakens Wagner abroad

Yeah the Wagner Group mutiny has unleashed schadenfreude in Western capitals over the plight of Russian President Vladimir Putin, it will spread unrest through the palaces of the Middle East. The region’s rulers, almost reactionary autocrats, tend to be nervous about uprisings of any kind, mainly for fear that they might inspire potential rebels closer to home.

The leaders of the Arab world will no doubt follow the lead of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in giving Putin guarantees of support. Nowhere is that more true than in the Gulf petrostates, which, in addition to fear of unrest, have strong ties to Russia through their common interest in propping up the price of oil.