The Syria war has now entered its 8th year with international and regional powers all trying to secure their interests.
On 30 September 2015, Russia approved a request by President Putin to launch air strikes in Syria.
Whilst there maybe other reasons, in this video, you will learn 5 geopolitical interests Russia has in Syria.
PERMANENT MILITARY PRESENCE
On 26 August 2015, Russia and Syria signed a treaty that allowed Russia’s use of Syria’s Hmeimim airport, indefinitely and for free.
In December 2017, Russia announced it had set about ″forming a permanent grouping” at Khmeimim and its naval facility in Tartus.
The deal allows Russia to stay in Syria for another half a century as Putin ratified the air base deal with the Assad regime.
MAINTAINING STRATEGIC INTEREST
Russia has been pursuing the goal of establishing new international rules for more than a decade.
In 2007, he said “I consider that the unipolar model is not only unacceptable but also impossible in today’s world.”
Russia’s interest in Syria is very much a political statement to the West to projectan image of Russia’s strength.
ECONOMIC DISTRACTION
In 2015 Low oil prices and Western sanctions over Ukraine plunged Russia’s economy into crisis shrinking it by 3.7%.
The economic pain meant that the Kremlin desperately needed a distraction. A Syrian war was a way of boosting national pride.
ECONOMIC INTERESTS
Russia’s investments in Syria were valued at $19.4 billion in 2009 and its exports to Syria were worth $1.1 billion in 2010.
Russian invests considerably in the oil sector in Syria and is looking to secure lucrative reconstruction contracts.
PAYBACK FOR UKRAINE
In February 2014, a popular uprising sent a pro-Russian government in Kiev packing bringing Ukraine into the West.
Syria has proved to be a perfect place for Russia to show the West that, despite economic sanctions, it has cards to play.
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