Russia’s Permanent Military Presence in Syrian Tartus Port for the Coming 49 Years: Increasing Maritime Security Challenges In the Region

Abstract

Relations between states are always the result of permanent interests as there can never be permanent friends or foes in international relations. The changing geopolitical dynamics have engaged all the states in a struggle to maintain dominance across the world. Consequently, Russia’s leasing of the Syrian Tartus port for the coming 49 years is directional towards the same geopolitical interest of making the state resurge. Nevertheless, this decision will have multiple implications for the region's maritime security. Permanent military presence of Russia on the Tartus port, close to the Mediterranean and black sea makes it a geopolitical hotspot for the major powers great game. Not only this, the region has become home to numerous nontraditional security threats in the maritime domain including drug trafficking, piracy, illicit trade, marine terrorism, etc. Therefore, this research paper aims to highlight how Russia’s presence in the Syrian Tartus port will shift the regional dynamics. It endeavors to analyze the amassed maritime security challenges in the region by reconnoitering the tug of war between the US and Russia and the non-traditional threats that have made it a point of contention between states across the region.