THE FOREIGN POLICY OF SYRIA IN THE 1970S – THE FIRST HALF OF THE 1980S.
Authors:   P.G. Demidov Yaroslavl State University, KHAZANOV A.M. , GASRATYAN S.M. ,   Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Published: November 2024

The purpose of the article is to analyze the foreign policy of Syria in the 1970s and the first half of the 1980s. The authors revealed the role of Syria in the Middle East conflict. It was found out that the basis of Syrian foreign policy in the specified chronological framework was the fight against Israel. The article shows the position of Syria, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Israel and various Lebanese forces, groups and denominations (Maronite Christians, Muslims, etc.) during the Lebanese civil war, the positive and negative aspects of Damascus's intervention under the mandate of the League of Arab States (LAS) in the Lebanese civil war. The study provides an analysis of the main directions of Syria's foreign policy in the chronological boundaries like the fight against Israel; allied relations with the USSR and the Warsaw Pact countries, rapprochement with Iran since 1979; joint actions and contradictions with the OPP, Lebanon and Iraq; relations with Libya; the role of Syria in the Arab League; etc. The important role of the United States in the Near East is noted. The authors note Israel's reliance on military force in solving the Middle East crisis, the role of the Soviet Union in supporting Syria in the international arena and the anti-Israeli foundation of Damascus' foreign policy.
The research methodology includes interdisciplinary fundamental principles and approaches. The main methodological approaches include the principle of historicism. Historicism is used to study the development of Syria's foreign policy relations with other countries and international organizations during this period. The study is based on archival materials like diplomatic documents, correspondence, agreements, statements and other official documents related to Syria's foreign policy. The goal a comparative legal method is to compare Syria's approaches and actions in the international arena with other countries in the region. The combination of these methodologies allows to conduct a more comprehensive and deeper analysis of Syria's foreign policy activities during the given historical period and identify the essence and features of the country's foreign policy strategy at that time.
As a result, the authors conclude that Syria's foreign policy in the 1970s and the first half of the 1980s was characterized by a clearly pronounced anti-Israeli orientation. In Lebanon, Syria set a course to create a state loyal to it and supported pro-Syrian groups in every possible way. Relations with the Palestine Liberation Organization were ambiguous, but for all the disagreements, the main unifying force of Syria with the Palestine Liberation Organization was an anti-Israeli orientation. Since 1979, the rapprochement with Iran has begun. The main allies of Syria were constantly the USSR and the Warsaw Pact countries, which provided Damascus with powerful financial, economic, diplomatic and military assistance.