Russia in Global Affairs

The military operations and territorial advancements signify not only an immediate strategic goal but also a broader ambition for Israel to redefine its borders and its role on both the regional and international stages—unless a well-considered proposal for a peace initiative with Israel emerges from the new state in Syria.

The recent offensive by Syrian rebels which took control of several cities, particularly the strategic city of Aleppo, is a new development that, although surprising, was not strange. The Middle East region and Syria have many unresolved challenges that are capable of leading to a crisis and an uncertain future at any time under the influence of national, regional or international factors.

Recent developments suggest that Turkey has been given significant latitude in its actions within Syria, allowing the government to effectively mobilize its assets among various armed groups aligned with its strategic interests. The upcoming geopolitical struggle in Syria appears poised to focus on dismantling Iranian influence in the region.

With the special operation in Ukraine, Syria’s strategic importance for Moscow has increased. Prior to the Ukraine conflict, Washington would have been prepared - under certain conditions - to reach a deal on a settlement in Syria. Now, however, matters have changed.

Is the war in Syria finally approaching an end? If so, what might that look like? The BBC’s Middle East Editor Jeremy Bowen asks who will hold real power in a post-war Syria. Among those with whom he speaks - Fyodor Lukyanov, editor of Russia in Global Affairs.

In order to gain a freer hand in exercising foreign policy and pursuing those objectives, which include practices such as regime change, the US and its allies needed to change the manner in which the rules and boundaries of international relations were conceived and applied.

The second decade of the 21st century began with a string of explosive protests in the Middle East and North Africa, which have destabilized not only the countries that saw violent regime change but the entire region. A way out of the profound systemic crisis is yet to be found.

This year is filled with anniversaries of events that happened in 1989. Back then Europe and the entire world witnessed a change of the sociopolitical paradigm, which soon led to the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the end of the previous system of international relations.

Unmanned military systems – or ‘military robots’ – are becoming more commonplace among the rising number of armies around the world and are used with increasing frequency in combat. Leading powers, their challengers as well as their non-state combat opponents have begun to design, test, and field numerous unmanned systems.