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Snubbed by West, Syria moves to East
By giving access to Russia's naval fleet to the port of Tartous, Damascus is replaying the alignment game of the Cold War.
- By Marwan Kabalan, Special to Gulf News
- Published: 00:13 October 3, 2008
The visit of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad to Moscow last month is still generating interest in the Western media. Most important, perhaps, is the news that Al Assad has invited Russia to upgrade the Syrian port of Tartous in order to give Russian fleet a permanent base in the Mediterranean.
"Damascus does not mind transforming Tartous into the Russian Navy's base in the Mediterranean Sea," Al Assad told the Russian daily Kommersant ahead of his visit to Moscow.
Transforming Tartous into a place of permanent stationing of Russian ships has been on the table for a long time. In 2006, Russian military sources disclosed that their government will start dredging the port and reconstruct it into a comprehensive naval base.
At that time the Russian defence ministry reported that the Black Sea ships would be deployed at the Syrian ports of Tartous and Latakia, should the need arises. To this end, much work was to be done: dredging and repairing the moorings, which have not been used since Soviet times.
Since then the Syrian port was recollected whenever it seemed necessary to demonstrate that Russia was building up its military potential.
Yet, the post-Georgia fallout and Ukraine's threat to kick Russia out of Sevastopol - the strategic Black Sea naval base - seem to have given the long standing Syrian-Russian military ties a new zeal.
The news triggered special interest in the West to understand the nature of the newly established strategic partnership between Syria and Russia, the true intentions of the two countries from reviving their Cold War alliance and Russia's increasing projection of power into the Middle East.
Western circles are also looking for answers to questions such as how would a permanent Russian naval presence in Syria effect the balance of power in the region? Could it have a role to play in the Iran nuclear crisis? Is it likely to deter Israel from undertaking further aggressions against Syria?
In other words, would the Russians defend Syrian airspace, or would the Syrians have received promises to upgrade their own defence systems? What does the fact that Russia is now announcing this move into Tartous mean in the post-Georgia conflict world?
And since Moscow is also sending military ships to Venezuela for exercises; is this the beginning of a new Russian-led alliance against America's unipolar world with Syria the Middle East spearhead? How is the West to understand this move by Syria?
On the one hand holding hands off peace talks with Israel and Al Assad going to Paris, on the other hosting the Russian fleet in the Mediterranean and saying it will never leave Iran's side? These questions are vehemently pursued by Western media and political circles in recent weeks.
In the light of the political complications in the region and the rising tension between Russia and the US, most of these questions are hard to answer indeed; although a general explanation can be provided; at least from a Syrian perspective.
Tactical
Syria is indeed interested in reviving its alliance with a resurgent Russia. Syria's main objective is both strategic and tactical.
Strategically, Damascus wants Moscow to provide a shield against US pressure, which has been pilling up over the past few years. It also seeks to purchase advanced Russian weaponry in order to protect itself in the face of recurring Israeli aggressions.
From a tactical viewpoint, by leaning eastward, Syria tries to show the West that it can replay the alignment game of the Cold War and that if Washington, London and Paris are not interested in developing co-operative relations with it; Moscow, Beijing and Tehran are.
Hence, it is safe to suggest that Syria has not chosen to take the "Russian Road" at free will but was forced to do so after the Western gates have been closed on its face.
This is exactly the sort of issue that need to be addressed by Western capitals rather than busying themselves trying to answer questions about the significance of the Syria-Russian rapprochement.
Dr Marwan Kabalan is a lecturer in media and international relations, Faculty of Political Science and Media, Damascus University, Syria.
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