The Road to Syria Runs Through Moscow

{
  "authors": [
    "Matthew Rojansky"
  ],
  "type": "legacyinthemedia",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
    "Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center",
    "Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "ctw",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "russia",
  "programs": [
    "Russia and Eurasia"
  ],
  "projects": [
    "Eurasia in Transition"
  ],
  "regions": [
    "Middle East",
    "Syria",
    "Caucasus",
    "Russia"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Security",
    "Foreign Policy"
  ]
}

In The Media

The Road to Syria Runs Through Moscow

The fact that the Red Cross has appealed to Putin for authorization to provide humanitarian relief to Syria proves that Russia has become an indispensable player in dealing with the Assad regime.

By Matthew Rojansky

Published on Mar 18, 2012

Source: BBC World Service Radio

In an interview with BBC World Service Radio, Carnegie’s Matthew Rojansky suggested that Vladimir Putin will ultimately “authorize support” for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to enter Syria to provide humanitarian relief. Russia’s major concern, he noted, is whether the ICRC mission is “purely humanitarian” or merely a “shield for a Western intelligence operation.”

In the end, Rojansky concluded, Putin’s non-intervention strategy toward Syria has proven successful. The fact that the ICRC is appealing to Moscow has made Russia the “indispensable player” and “linchpin for communicating with the Assad regime,” he said.

About the Author

Matthew Rojansky

Former Deputy Director, Russia and Eurasia Program

Rojansky, formerly executive director of the Partnership for a Secure America, is an expert on U.S. and Russian national security and nuclear-weapon policies.

Recent Work

Paper
An Opportunity for Ambition: Ukraine’s OSCE Chairmanship
- Matthew Rojansky
In The Media
Presiding Over the OSCE: Challenges and Opportunities
- Matthew Rojansky

Security Foreign Policy Middle East Syria Caucasus Russia

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Research
Book Review of Enduring Hostility: The Making of America’s Iran Policy
A review of a detailed account of how antipathy toward Tehran has assumed a life and logic of its own in Washington, DC.
Jane Darby Menton
Paper
The Dual Imperative in Turkish Foreign Policy: Right-Wing Populists and Their Opposition
Turkish right-wing populists have been trying to advance the country’s middle-power goals based on perceptions of what the public wants, but they have been doing so in ways that reinforce their project of autocratic political consolidation.
Murat Somer
Commentary
Emissary
Trump Can Play Kingmaker in Latin America. He Can’t Build Lasting Influence.
In Colombia and elsewhere in the region, the United States is trying to shape election outcomes—but at what cost?
Oliver Stuenkel, Adrian Feinberg
Article
In Yemen, Climate Finance Must Respond to Entrenched Instability
The world’s climate adaptation funds must adapt to address the ways that climate change is deepening state fragility.
Ray Salvatore Jennings, Paul Andrew Mayewski
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
Iran War Fallout Gifts Putin Diplomatic Victory at ASEAN Summit
Russia looks set to reap economic benefits from closer ties with Southeast Asian countries that are keen to find reliable energy suppliers and diversify trade ties.
Alexander Gabuev

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Research

Book Review of Enduring Hostility: The Making of America’s Iran Policy

A review of a detailed account of how antipathy toward Tehran has assumed a life and logic of its own in Washington, DC.

Jane Darby Menton

Turkish President and Leader of the Justice and Development (AK) Party Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends the AK Party Ankara Branch gathering at ATO Congresium in Ankara, Turkiye on June 22, 2026

Paper

The Dual Imperative in Turkish Foreign Policy: Right-Wing Populists and Their Opposition

Turkish right-wing populists have been trying to advance the country’s middle-power goals based on perceptions of what the public wants, but they have been doing so in ways that reinforce their project of autocratic political consolidation.

Murat Somer

De la Espriella moving through a crowd and smiling

Commentary

Emissary

Trump Can Play Kingmaker in Latin America. He Can’t Build Lasting Influence.

In Colombia and elsewhere in the region, the United States is trying to shape election outcomes—but at what cost?

Oliver Stuenkel, Adrian Feinberg

Aerial view of Yemeni refugee tents displaced by war

Article

In Yemen, Climate Finance Must Respond to Entrenched Instability

The world’s climate adaptation funds must adapt to address the ways that climate change is deepening state fragility.

Ray Salvatore Jennings, Paul Andrew Mayewski

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Iran War Fallout Gifts Putin Diplomatic Victory at ASEAN Summit

Russia looks set to reap economic benefits from closer ties with Southeast Asian countries that are keen to find reliable energy suppliers and diversify trade ties.

Alexander Gabuev