Russia and Syria Are Getting Cosy

Claire Duffet, Christian Science Monitor | 14 May 2010

Syria will strive “to hang Israel around the America’s neck.”++ Given the failure of talks with the US, Syria fears an imminent conflict with Israel. Hence improved relations with Russia are crucial for Syria, given Moscow’s veto power on the UN Security Council. ++ While the Russians wish to improve their standing in the Middle East by courting former Soviet allies like Syria, possibly to promote atomic energy cooperation, Israel continues to suspect Syria of providing Hezbollah with long-range missiles.