Russian soldier with PKM machine gun (Modernizirovanniy Pulemyot Kalashnikova), image via Wikimedia CommonsBESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 636, November 7, 2017
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Moscow’s intervention in the Syrian civil war boosted the reputation of the Russian military, afforded it valuable training, and enhanced Moscow’s political clout in both the conflict zone itself and the Middle East more generally. With that said, Syria threatens to become a quagmire for Russia, and Moscow is looking for an exit. This will be difficult to pull off as Russia faces considerable geopolitical constraints.
Following the recent successes of the Russian military forces in Syria, there are …read more