THE STRATEGIC AND MILITARY ASPECTS OF SYRIAÆS FOREIGN POLICY
This research examines the strategic and military aspects of SyriaÆs foreign policy. Syria is located in the hotbed of Middle Eastern politics. The countryÆs foreign policy is dominated by Middle East concernsùprimarily the Arab-Israeli dispute, although Syria was an Allied Forces participant in the Gulf War action against Iraq.
Issues Related to Strategic Location, and Their Effects on Syrian Foreign Policy
Syria is bounded on the north and northwest by Turkey (Paxton, 1991, p. 1175). Conflicts frequently arise between Syria and Turkey over minor border problems, the apportionment of river water flow, smuggling, and charges of internal subversion (Collelo, 1990, p. 253). Historically, Syrian resentment against Turkey stems from the unilateral and arbitrary decision by the French to cede SyriaÆs Alexandretta province to Turkey in 1939, while Syria was governed by the French under a Mandate from the League of Nations (Collelo, 1990, p. 253). The French decision preceded a similar decision by the British to create Kuwait out of territory historically claimed by Iraq, when that region of the Middle East was governed by the British under a Mandate from the United Nations (the original British Mandate was established by the League of Nations). For its part, Turkey has frequently accused Syria of providing training and support for Armenian, Kurdish, and Arab terrorist groups operating against and in Turkey (Collelo, 1990, p. 253). While Syria and Turkey have not engaged in military hostilities with one another, the political tensions between the two countries do affect the military aspects of SyriaÆs foreign policy in the context of maintaining military strength.
Syria is bounded on the east by Iraq (Paxton, 1991, p. 1175). Since the Baath Party ascended to power in Syria in 1963 and became a Middle Eastern rival of the Baath Party that controls Iraq, rela...