By actively interfering in the conflict in the Middle East, Russia is pursuing its own goals: cutting off the Islamic State from the approaches to its borders and breaking the economic blockade of the West.
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Such reasons were mentioned in an interview with the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper by the general director of the Center for Political Technologies, Igor Bunin, who noted that today several thousand citizens of Russia and Central Asian countries, including those belonging to the SCO, have joined the ranks of IS militants.
“They all undergo combat training there and could potentially cross over to Russian territory to incite conflicts,” the expert warns. – Moreover, four of the seven emirs of the Caucasus Emirate have sworn allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State, that is, the Caucasus Emirate is quickly becoming the Russian branch of ISIS. ISIS attracts young people and the disadvantaged who are looking for simple solutions: pick up a rifle and start shooting.
The second reason, the publication’s interlocutor believes, is the Ukrainian issue.
“We realized that the situation that has arisen in Ukraine leads to a complete blockade of Russia,” notes the general director of the Center for Political Technologies. – The only way to get out of isolation and not become a rogue state is to support the coalition of countries fighting ISIS. And we are already seeing the first elements of a way out of isolation related to Russia’s constant negotiations with Europe, the USA, Israel, and Arab countries...”
At the same time, the expert points out that Russia cannot become a full-fledged participant in the Western coalition.
“But Russia cannot fully join this coalition, since Assad is “our client,” our largest naval base is located on the territory of his country, which allows the Mediterranean fleet to somehow move,” Bunin emphasizes. – What will happen to the base without Assad is not entirely clear. And for the rest of the community, Assad is a monster. This contradiction cannot be completely resolved, but it has been partially resolved: Russia did not join the large American coalition fighting ISIS, but created its own “parallel coalition.”