THE RUSSIA FOREIGN POLICY TOWARD THE SYRIAN CONFLICT: THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RUSSIA FOREIGN POLICY TO SUPPORT PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE FREE SYRIAN ARMY (FSA) AND ISLAMIC STATES OF IRAQ AND SYRIA (ISIS) IN 2011 – 2017

Abstract

Arab Spring revolution is an important phenomenon in the Middle East and North Africa region in order to bring down the authoritarian leader. The Arab Spring widespread in Syria affected the major demonstrations since March 2011 aims to bring down President Bashar Al-Assad who ruling Syria since 2000. The Syrian government responded with brutal crackdown and violence toward demonstrators that becomes the Syrian conflict. The demonstrations turn out into the armed insurgency when Syrian Army defectors established the Free Syrian Army (FSA) alongside the demonstrators aims to bring down President Bashar Al-Assad. On June 2014, the Syria conflict was increased by the emergence of Islamic States of Iraq and Syria as the terrorist aims to take control of Syria territory, take control of Syrian oil refineries, also bring down the President Bashar Al-Assad. In 2015, the government opposition took control of Syrian territory affected the major setbacks of Syria Armed Forces. The Syrian conflict involved foreign intervention such as the United States and allies and Russia to resolve the conflict. Syria is Russian ally in the Middle East region, Russian foreign policy toward Syria support President Bashar Al-Assad through political, economic, and military attempts. Russia foreign policy cooperation with Syrian government aims to achieve Russian national interest in Syria. Russia implements its foreign policy provided an assistance of political, economic, and military aspects to President Bashar Al-Assad in the fight against the FSA and ISIS to resolve the conflict also liberate the Syrian territory from the government opposition.