(Japanese Version)
(Arabic Version)
Dec, 2020
Countries sneaking in the
political vacuum of the Middle East (2)
1. Russia: Steadily expanding military
bases
Russia's military base in the
Middle East was the Tartus naval port in Syria only. Russia strongly supported
the Assad government during the civil war. Russian made weapons were imported
in the Tartus naval port and transported to the Latakia air force base. The IS
(Islamic State) forces were destroyed by the Russian air-bombers. After the collapse
of IS, Russia-Syria joint operation destroyed the anti-government forces which
consisted of mixed units such as Kurdish forces, democratic forces, etc. Russia
strengthened its alliance with the Assad government and established a solid
military base in Syria.[1]
Russia's Middle East expansion policy
is remarkable nowadays. It provided Turkey with the surface-to-air missile
system S-400. Turkey is a NATO member and has played the role of a bulwark
against the former Soviet Union since World War II. But the present President
Erdogan has launched a multi-lateral power diplomacy that weighed the two major
powers of the United States and Russia. Therefore, the US President Trump was
reluctant to provide Turkey with stealth fighter F-35. He was afraid that
Western military secrets would be leaked to Russia[2].
Notwithstanding the Turkish President Erdogan conducted joint military
exercises with Russia in the eastern Mediterranean[3].
In Libya Russia has supported
the rebel military organization of General Haftar based in Benghazi and aimed to
expand its power in the Mediterranean. There was a civil war in Libya between
the orthodox government in the capital Tripoli and the rebels in Benghazi.
Turkey supported the government of Tripoli. Russia used its private military
company, Wagner Group, to support rebels. Russia camouflaged national flag of military
aircrafts to convey troops and weapons from the country[4].
The Haftar rebel corps almost approached to the capital, Tripoli. But Turkey
sent militias from Syria to support the orthodox government. Currently, oil
facilities in Libya are under the control of the orthodox government. Oil
production is recovering rapidly[5].
Russia stumbled in Libya and was pushed back to the eastern Mediterranean.
Russia turned to Sudan facing
the Red Sea and on the other side of Saudi Arabia. Russia aimed to developing a
maritime route from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean through the Red Sea. Russian
state media Tass reported that Russia had a plan to open a military port in
Port Sudan. By chance, the United States announced that Sudan would approve
Israel following the UAE and Bahrain, therefore US would lift economic sanctions
on the country in return[6].
Russia did not miss the chance. Russia approached Sudan and ask for naval base.
Russia could get a sea lane from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean via
the Red Sea. Russia's military ambition is endless.
(cont’d)
By Areha Kazuya
E-mail: Arehakazuya1@gmail.com
[1] Russian
FM in Syria, meets Assad in first visit since 2012
2020/9/7
The Peninsula
[2] Blow to
Erdogan as US boots Turkey out of F-35 strike fighter program
2020/7/19
Arab News
[3] Turkey:
Russia to hold live-fire exercises in Mediterranean
2020/9/4
Arab News
[4] Russian
jets deployment in Libya sparks fears of Ankara-Moscow clash
2020/5/28
Arab News
[6] US says
Sudan to normalize ties with Israel, in new breakthrough for Trump
2020/10/23
Arab News
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