User:Muhyodiin mmc

History of Russian-Syrian relationship
The opening of the Russian consulate in Damascus at the end of the 18th century marked the beginning of the official relations between Russia and Syria.

A hundred years later, Russia opened a consulate in Lattakia.

The relationship between Russia and Syria over time has been characterized by a great deal of stability and permanence, so that much is classifying this relationship as part of the strategic alliance , and This relationship dates back to the period of the success of the Bolshevik revolution and the beginning of the Soviet Union in 1917.

The eyes of the Soviet Union were on Syria and the Arab world. The bond of friendship towards the Arabs was the adoption of the new communist regime.

The former Soviet Union was one of the first countries that recognize Syria's independence, Where they established diplomatic relations with each other in 1944, It didn’t  stop at this limit, but the Soviet Union strongly sought to include Syria in the list of founding countries of the United Nations, Despite the strong Western opposition to this endeavor. In addition, the Soviet Union, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, supported the Syrian demand to withdraw French troops from it in 1946, which was actually done in that year. Thus, the relationship between the two countries continued to develop and maintain .

Why Russia intervened in Syria? and what it’s position?
Russia intervened primarily to protect its own strategic interests in Syria. The two countries have had a close relationship, going back decades. The Soviet Union supported Syria from the moment it achieved independence from France in 1946, and helped create the Syrian army. In return, Syria remained an ally of the Soviet Union throughout the Cold War, Since the Syrian revolution and demanding the departure of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his regime in March 2011 ,all kinds of pressure by the League of Arab States, the United States and the European Union failed on the Assad regime  To stop the hostilities against the Syrian people because of the joint Russian-Chinese position in support of the regime in Syria through the use of veto power (veto)  more than once in order to disrupt any international resolution to condemn the use of the Syrian regime to excessive military force to eliminate the revolution.

The positions of the international forces have constituted an important turning point in the international arena, especially in light of the current conflict In Syria, and the deterioration of the situation, each country has an important and fundamental role that serves its interests.

If we conclude the best reasons why Russia intervened the Syrian war, we can say There are several Russian considerations and interests that necessitated direct entry into the Syrian conflict and they are :-

1-   Historical consideration: Syria has been Russia's strategic ally since the Cold War,  During the Cold War, there were thousands of Russians moved to Syria. On the other     hand, Syria sent its training and study missions to the Soviet Union.

2-   Russia wants to make Syria a firm foothold in the Middle East, Thus ensuring a long Mediterranean sea and land borders with Turkey, Israel, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan

3-   Support for the Assad’s  regime is Compatible with Putin's aspirations that Russia become a great power in the region in the face of the West, and The fall of the Assad’s                               regime means that Russia has lost its only military base outside Russia since the post-Soviet period.

4-   Putin's aspirations to gain more popularity and thus ensure a third presidential term.

5-   Re-polish the Russian weapon image and market it.

Russian interests in Syria
The Middle East Research Center at the Institute of International Relations of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a document entitled "Russian Interests in the Middle East". It was launched in 2012, at a time when the Arab Spring was at its peak, As for the Russian issue, according to the document, the Russian strategy towards Syria is based on three pillars , and they are :

1)  work in the international field to prevent the United States and its allies from repeating the Libyan scene on Syria.

2)  Continuing to maintain close relations with the Syrian regime.

3)  Seeking to promote the solution of the Syrian crisis through dialogue between the opposition and the regime.

As for the factors that lead to such a Russian position towards Syria, it is a number of points, the most important are :

First:  geostrategic factors

Second: the interest factor

Third: Lack of confidence in the United States.

Why Russia insists on supporting Bashar Al-assad ?
Many observers have observed the evolution of the relationship between Russia and Syria over the years, but this relationship has received increasing attention after the Syrian crisis, Where the Russian position is consistent not to repeat what happened in Libya to happen in Syria , in addition to standing with the Syrian regime Headed by Bashar al-Assad and supported by various political and military means , Continuing a long history of strategic relations between the two countries  , Which is changes the equation and prevent the crisis going in a different direction to the strategic interests of Russia.