In early September 2015, Russia deployed military tanks and cargo planes into Syria, despite
Western warnings that Russian involvement could escalate the Syrian civil war.
Syria has been called Russia’s closest ally in the middle east, and one of its last.
Today, Russia openly supports the current Syrian regime.
So why does Russia love Syria?
Well, In the early 20th century, many Arab nations like Syria, obtained their independence
from Western colonial powers.
They began to assert themselves via the Arab Nationalist Movement, and rejected Western
dominance.
This led to a number of Middle Eastern countries siding with the similarly anti-Western USSR
during the Cold War.
In turn the soviet union provided some financial and military support.
Additionally, the creation of Israel in 1948 was resented by many Arab countries, including
Syria, Iraq and Egypt.
Between 1955 and 1960, the Soviets gave Syria more than $200 million dollars in military
aid in exchange for greater Soviet influence and increased foreign trade.
In 1971, they were allowed to use a Syrian port for their own ships patrolling the Mediterranean
Sea.
That same year, the Assad family seized control of Syria.
The new leader installed a hereditary authoritarian regime, using the Soviet model for a single
party police state.
Since then, Syria has been riddled with economic, social and human rights problems.
But Russia remains in support of the Assad regime.
In 2012, Russia, along with China, vetoed a UN resolution to sanction Syria’s government
for human rights abuses.
This was after the military under current President Bashar al-Assad, was accused of
firing on civilians during government protests.
On multiple occasions, Russia has pledged to “continue supporting Syria” against
terrorism and outside influence.
One expert attributes this relationship to the fact that Russia is running out of stable
allies in the Middle East due to chaotic Arab Spring regime changes.
The turmoil in Iraq, Egypt and Libya has been very unprofitable for Russia, who had previously
strong alliances with those countries.
For instance, in 2011, after the fall of Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, Russia claims to have lost
more than $4 billion dollars in arms contracts.
US officials have made it clear that it would be “unconscionable for any party, including
the Russians, to provide any support to the Assad regime.”
However, it’s in Russia’s best interest to keep its main ally in the Middle East unified
and stable.
As long as Assad remains in power, Syria and Russia will continue to cooperate.
While the United States has serious issues with Russia
and Syria’s alliance, Russia could care less — because Russia doesn’t really like
the U.S. To learn more, watch this video.
Thanks for watching TestTube!
Be sure to like and subscribe.
We’ll see you next time!