Russia, Syria, and the Power Play

Russia is no stranger to separatist movements, having been involved in several over the course of the 1990s. However, this time Russia is not propping up the separatists, but an authoritarian leader Bashar al-Assad. Russia’s intervention in Syria began on 30 September when Russia’s parliament approved request to launch airstrikes in Syria. Since then, Russia has moved troops, helicopter gunships, tanks, artillery pieces, and fighter jets into Syria. Vladimir Putin stated in an interview that he wants to stabilize the Damascus government in order to pursue political compromise between the separatists and the al-Assad government. But perhaps the objective of these airstrikes has a more personal dimension.

Since Putin has taken office, he has sought to make Russia a respected global power through military power. According to the World Bank, since 2010 Russia has increased its military spending as a percentage of GDP from 3.9 percent to 4.5 percent. The rise in Russian military spending is in an effort to build up Russia’s defense sector; the world has not seen a rise in Russia’s military like this since the Cold War. Vladimir Putin very much desires to see the world take Russia seriously again. Putin’s use of force is a demand for bargaining power once the future of Syria is up for grabs. Putin does not want the US or its European allies to have the power in determining where lines are drawn. The country’s military presence in Syria demonstrates to the US and the world that Russia could be a formidable partner or adversary in global politics.

Moscow’s intervention in Syria also demonstrates Putin’s desire to maintain some influence in the Middle East. The Bashar al-Assad regime is Russia’s last ally in the region. More importantly, Russia was gifted a naval base on the Mediterranean coast of Syria, Tartus, by Assad’s father. Russia has geostrategic interests involved in the fight in Syria; Russia maintains its only direct access to the Mediterranean Sea through Syria. If the Syrian Government falls, Russia may lose its last ally in the Middle East and its only direct connection to the Mediterranean at the same time.

Russia wants to demonstrate that it will protect allies against possible regime change. Russia does not want to see its Syrian ally turn into a radical Islamic state, but also detested the idea of western democratic influence in the region, which might explain why Russia’s first official airstrike was against moderate Syrian rebels and not against the Islamic State.

Syria may just be a testing ground for new Russian military technology. According to the New York Times, the Russian airstrikes have involved aircrafts that have not been used in combat such as the Sukhoi Su-34. The Sukhoi Su-34 is a two-seater apart of the SU-30 fighter jet family that can carry up eight tons of precision-guided weapons. The aircraft provides more room than other aircraft designs. Lastly, the Russian forces have launched long-range cruise missiles from the Caspian Sea. Putin wants to show the world that Russia’s military technology is equivalent to the United States’ in certain respects.

Vladimir Putin is using Syria to debut a new and improved Russian military. Moscow has come out onto the world stage with its finest technology in order to gain respect from countries with power such as the United States. Putin is essentially killing two birds with one airstrike by using force to protect his vital self

interests and also showing his adversaries of what Russia is capable. The airstrikes in Syria are the inauguration of a new Russian threat that could be here to stay.

Photo: Alex Beltyukov, 2012