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.

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