DOI: 10.22281/2413-9912-2023-09-01-109-123

Semenova D.A.

DYNAMICS OF RUSSIA’S ENGAGEMENT IN SYRIAN CRISIS SETTLEMENT AND PROSPECTS OF MAINTAINIG RUSSIAN PRESENCE IN SYRIA

Based on the study of Russian-Syrian relations through historical methods, Russia’s position on counter-terrorism, geopolitical aspects of Russian-Syrian interaction, as well as the actions of the U.S.-led Western coalition in Syria, the article analyzes the main factors of Russia’s motivation in making decisions to change the degree of involvement in the Syrian crisis. Both before the end of November 2024, in the conditions of the “fading” conflict, and today Syria faces a number of urgent and acute humanitarian, socio-economic and security problems. At the same time, since 2020, there has been a certain decrease in Russia’s profile, which is explained mainly by the fact that the threat to Syria’s statehood has been withdrawn. Since December 7-8, 2024, the fall of B. Assad’s power, there has been a sharp decline in the degree of Russian engagement in Syrian affairs, but Russia still proceeds from the interests of its own security and builds its policy on the basis of previously elaborated legal foundations of the Syrian settlement. Against the background of weakening Russian positions “on the ground”, the terrorist threat emanating from the Syrian territory, as well as security challenges associated with Russia’s presence in Syria, are again acute.

Keywords: Syrian crisis, Syria, Russia, Turkey, Iran, USA, countering terrorism.

MGIMO-University Diplomacy Department (Russia).

Download (pdf)

Это произведение доступно по лицензии Creative Commons «Attribution-ShareAlike» («Атрибуция — На тех же условиях») 4.0 Всемирная