Skillfully lays out Mr. Putin's approach to the Middle East. Wall Street Journal Detailed and
fascinating. Diplomatic Courier Putin intervened in Syria in September 2015 with international
critics predicting that Russia would overextend itself and Barack Obama suggesting the country
would find itself in a quagmire in Syria. Contrary to this Anna Borshchevskaya argues that in
fact Putin achieved significant key domestic and foreign policy objectives without crippling
costs and is well-positioned to direct Syria's future and become a leading power in the Middle
East. This outcome has serious implications for Western foreign policy interests both in the
Middle East and beyond. This book places Russian intervention in Syria in this broader context
exploring Putin's overall approach to the Middle East - historically Moscow has a special
relationship with Damascus - and traces the political diplomatic military and domestic
aspects of this intervention. Borshchevskaya delves into the Russian military campaign public
opinion within Russia as well as Russian diplomatic tactics at the United Nations. Crucially
this book illustrates the impact of Western absence in Syria particularly US absence and what
the role of the West is and could be in the Middle East.
