Laura Rachele GALEOTTI, PhD^*

Abstract. This paper studies the alignment between Iran, Turkey and the Russian Federation by specifically investigating whether they share common regional and global interests as well as assume common positions on a number of geopolitical issues. The article aims to chart that space and explore the panorama of orientation between Tehran, Ankara and Moscow, in order to delve into the patterns of the meeting of interests among these three key geopolitical players and it argues that this Trio is going to build a strong strategy synergy in the Middle Eastern area.

Geopolitical rivalry and supremacy were perceived as common issues among Iran, Turkey and Russia. These three old rivalries have shared a long history of competition and cooperation in the Middle East, and over the time they carved out their influence against some salient events such as the Syrian conflict and its spill-over in Iraq with the rise of terrorism, the Iranian nuclear deal, and the crisis in Crimea.

In the past, they had diametrically opposed interests but the new challenges seem to pan out otherwise, revealing convergence and strategic alignments, in particular across the Middle Eastern region where all of them have strong political influence. In the following pages, after a brief analysis of the strategic readjustment on both regional and global levels, the article will focus on the advantageous relations of the Trio and its anti-Western position.

* Università degli Studi di Bergamo (University of Bergamo), Dipartimento di Lettere, Filosofia, Comunicazione (Department of Letters, Philosophy, Communication), Post-Doc