Russia–United States Relations in Terms of the Political Conflict in Syria

Abstract

This article analyses the interaction between Russia and the USA during the political conflict in Syria as the most important factor in Russia–US relations, which can be described as extremely tense. The issue is considered in the historical-political retrospect, since the start of the conflict in 2011 to the present day. The development of Russia–US relations is analysed from the political and diplomatic point of view. The reasons behind the active involvement of Russia and the USA in solving the Syrian problem are indicated. The parties’ interpretation of the underlying causes of the conflict and ways to resolve it are described. Special attention is given to the confrontation between Russia and the USA in the United Nations (UN), which the author defines as a war of resolutions. It is noted that the positions of Russia and the United States in the UN have been diametrically opposed since the outbreak of the conflict. The USA and the West as a whole worked to persuade the UN Security Council to approve resolutions proclaiming Bashar al-Assad as the only actor responsible for the conflict, imposing political and economic sanctions on the Assad regime and even authorizing a military operation. At the same time, Russia considered shifting responsibility for the conflict onto one of the parties and resorting to armed intervention unacceptable and, therefore, along with China, vetoed the anti-Assad resolutions. In the context of Russian-American relations, the author analyses the consequences of the entry into Syria of the troops of the US-led Western coalition in 2014 and of Russian armed forces in 2015, as well as considers the problem of using chemical weapons and the fight against terrorism, primarily against the Islamic State. In addition, the political and diplomatic aspect of Russia–US relations outside the UN Security Council, namely, within the framework of the so-called Geneva and Astana formats, is studied. The final part of the article summarizes the results of the confrontation between Russia and the USA and examines prospects for the development of Russia–US relations, taking into account the Syrian factor.