What is naive is thinking money played a great role in the decision to go there. It clearly didn't; Russia should enough issues with its economy already, yet shows no sign of cutting military expeditures. What it has aplenty of, before running out of money that, is troops and weapons. Thats what they've been acquiring the past half a decade plus, just like the Saudis.
Syria is allied to Iraq?
Also again, the "Russia vs. West" rhetorics. Is Russia supposed to be some kind of a counter balance to this "West"? (in its own propaganda, perhaps)
It actually did play a role as you do not see huge forces moving there, so money always pays a role. There is no sight of cutting military because economy is not going as bad as it seems in west medias. Again troops and weapons, everything costs money, doesn't matter do you have that equipment or not.
Yes Iraq is not a full out ally to syria but more to russia, from military support, buying weapons and similar. And in this crisis iraq is getting very close to countries involved with ISIS problem. So yea, it was my wrong the way I worded it
Yes, russia and several other countries are counter balance to west, as they always where and probably will be in long future.
You are now ignored. I'm rather with
STRATFOR thananybody else but Russian state media.
Apart as a leverage point for negotiation with the West, what does Russia gain from Syria as an ally?
Weapon sales? I once heard that 80% of their military stuff is bought in Russia.
Yeah, although it is unknown to me how much longer Syria will be able to remain a customer. They've likely bought stuff for debit for some time already. Also, the naval base at Tartus.
From the same source, I've heard that Syria has got some extra large loans (1+ billion $) from Iran recently. So they'll probably remain a customer for as long as Iran is willing to bankroll Syria.
(new axis of evil: russia-syria-iran)
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Thanks! So, yeah the Shiite powers seem to be uniting their ranks against Saudis and ISIS now. In Iraq, Syria and Yemen. I wonder if more stuff starts happening if/once the embargo and sanctions on Iranian start getting lifted, they are another nation looking to modernize their army and especially the dated air force and Russia is likely more than happy to help with that asap.
Not that I would mind that...