ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Russia and the Middle East

Okay, kiddo! So, Russia is a big country far away from the Middle East. But Russia and the Middle East have a lot to do with each other. Think of it like two people who live in different houses but they talk to each other a lot on the phone.

One reason why Russia and the Middle East talk to each other is because they both have something the other needs. Russia has a lot of oil and gas, and the Middle East also has a lot of oil and gas. So they trade with each other. That means Russia sends things like weapons and technology to the Middle East in exchange for oil and gas.

Another reason why Russia and the Middle East are friends is because they have common enemies. Some countries in the Middle East don't like the United States, and Russia doesn't like the United States either. So sometimes they work together to try to stop the United States from doing things they don't like.

But sometimes Russia and the Middle East don't agree with each other. Some countries in the Middle East are friends with the United States, and that makes Russia upset. Russia also wants to be a big influence in the Middle East, but sometimes countries in the Middle East don't want Russia to have too much power.

Overall, Russia and the Middle East are like two friends who sometimes get along and sometimes don't. But they keep talking to each other because they both need things the other has, and they think they can work together to be strong against their enemies.