The following analysis of Syria-FSU
military cooperation is based mainly on Russian, Ukrainian and other CIS sources
which are not generally used by western researchers. The analysis clarifies that
the Syrians have managed to make good use of the disintegration of the Soviet
Union and of the “gray” market for arms, which was “blooming” in Russia,
Ukraine, Byelorussia etc. in the early 1990s.
By “shopping” in that way, Syria was able
to solve some of its army's most urgent problems, such as supplying it with
ammunition and spare parts, and it could also refresh its arsenal of light and
anti-tank weaponry. There is no indication that Damascus will abandon in the
future the ramifying and good relations that it established in these countries
Syria plays a very important role in Russia’s plans and aspirations to return to
the Middle East and Damascus does not even pay its debts and bargains on making
very modest scaled arms orders. It knows Moscow needs it both for strategic and
commercial objectives.
For the complete text of this article (in Hebrew), click
here.
