RUSSIA INTERVENTION IN THE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR (2015- 2020)

Abstract

Russia interest in intervening in Syrian Civil War were mostly related to economic and security interests. Russia has been investing a huge amount of money to Syria in the field of energy sector such as gas and oil long before the occurrence of Syrian Civil War, and also the largest Russia’s arms buyer that Russia cannot afford to lose. Syria geographically also have a strategic location in the Middle East that will support Russia’s plan ahead in the future. In Russia’s point of view, the intervention done is also a mandatory action for its national security interest, which is to prevent Syrian terrorist to enter Russian border and for Russia to suppress domestic terrorism from rebel groups. In terms of power, the opposition group, which was supported by the United States and other western countries, had the shared goal of removing Assad from power in Syria and replacing him with a new leader who would better serve their interests. In the meanwhile, Russia already has a long-standing, positive connection with Syria. A loss of an ally is considered as a threat and decrease of power, it also means to lose everything that Russia has already invested, and Russia’s objective to establish balance of power can not be reached. Russia is successful in winning the war, it will imply that it has been successful in maintaining Assad's position and preventing the oppositions from installing a biased leader in Syria who will push Syria farther away from Russia's influence in terms of its economy, politics, and military, in short Russia will be able to maintain what it already possesses, even increase its power in the Middle East region.