According to CNN, Russia started pulling forces out of Syria on Tuesday, March 15, 2016. This significant move forces Syria’s government to fend for itself. The Russian and Syrian governments have completed tasks together and joined together on the decision to withdraw forces from Syria. The benefits of having Russian forces in Syria no longer outweighed the costs for Russia and its military forces. Although Russia pulled out of Syria, Russia’s Defense Ministry said the “war against terrorism will continue.” Although there will not be many Russian troops in Syria, Russia will still keep an aviation support center in Syria to “monitor compliance with the ongoing cessation of hostilities.”
According to CNN, a phone call occurred on Monday between Putin and Assad. The Kremlin, a citadel within a Russian town, said "the two leaders noted that the operations conducted by Russia's Aerospace Forces have brought about a real turnabout in the fight against the terrorists in Syria, throwing their infrastructure into disarray and causing them substantial damage.” The Kremlin was thankful for Russia’s help, courage and heroism in the fight against terrorism in Syria.
This move had significant meaning for the Syrian government. This powerful action essentially told Syria, and the rest of the world, to not take any of Russia’s aid for granted. Just as they came when they wanted, they will also leave when they want to. Like any good government, Russia will make decisions based on the good of their people, not necessarily the good of other country’s people.
Russia’s withdraw from Syria had at least three reasons for occurring. These three reasons are resumed Peace talks in Geneva, Russia’s economic problems, and the anniversary of the Syrian civil war.
On the same day Russia announced their withdraw from Syria, they resumed Peace talks in Geneva. During the first peace talk, Russia and Geneva discussed how to govern Syria, as well as the proposition of a new constitution and presidential elections. Staffan de Mistura, a U.N. special envoy to Syria called the peace talk "a significant development, which we hope will have a positive impact on the progress of the negotiations in Geneva aimed at achieving a political solution of the Syrian conflict and a peaceful political transition in the country.”
Another possible reason behind Russia’s choice to move out of Syria is due to Russia’s economic problems. Instead of using money to better Russia’s economic status, the money was used to aid those fighting in Syria. This could have been seen as a money pit to Russia’s government and residents.
The third possible reason behind the withdraw of troops in Syria has to do with a significant anniversary: The fifth anniversary of the Syrian civil war. This war, which put a large toll on children, resulted in a death count of over 70,000 people. This resulted in the uprooting of half of the country, which resulted in more than a million migrants making the dangerous trip to Europe. According to CNN, this civil war ended up “leading to an international humanitarian crisis.”
Russia’s withdraw from Syria is significant to not only Russia and Syria, but to the rest of the world also. We are all affected by the war on terrorism in different ways. Although we are not necessarily living in Syria or Russia, we need to fight back. We need to acknowledge the real threat of powerful terrorists in all parts of the world. May we continue to build allies and destroy the man-made barriers between mankind? May we choose justice and peace?
