Lavrov is trying to woo the Arab states

The 6th Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum kicked off on Wednesday in Marrakech, under the chairmanship of Nasser Bourita, Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs.

This regional meeting gathered foreign ministers of participating countries, including Russia's Sergey Lavrov.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that some "external forces" are attempting to fan a fire of regional discord between Middle Eastern states by exploiting the situation in Gaza.

The purpose of such actions is to "weaken countries that pursue an independent foreign policy course," Lavrov said at the Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum in Marrakesh (Morocco).

"Some external forces want to use the current escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to their advantage, to ignite a fire of regional discord," the Russian Foreign Ministry said, quoting the country’s top diplomat.

Russia sees a cease-fire and increased humanitarian efforts in Gaza as top priorities as "violence has taken an unprecedented and truly catastrophic scale," he said.

According to the minister, Russia is continuing to make efforts to bring the Palestinian-Israeli conflict into a diplomatic channel in coordination with its Arab counterparts.

Russia is an ally of Iran and supports extremist movements like Hezbollah in Lebanon. This is a recent development, as Moscow used to maintain a certain balance in its relationship with Israel, but that balance has shifted.

Morocco was chosen as the host for this edition of the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum.

This does not mean that Morocco subscribes to Russian policy in the Middle East. Rabat maintains a policy of balance and dialogue with all parties

This edition operates in the format of an expanded Troika, comprising the Secretary-General of the Arab League, the three members of the Arab ministerial Troika, and the Presidency of the Arab Summit.

The focus of this edition is on examining cooperation between Russia and the Arab world, aligning with current practices.

The Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum exists as a platform for diplomatic engagement, economic collaboration, and cultural exchange between the Arab world and Russia.

While it primarily focuses on enhancing ties and addressing regional challenges in the Middle East and North Africa, it does not directly address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, nor is it specifically designed to alleviate tensions in the Middle East.