Syria as an Arena of Competition between Regional Actors

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Abstract

The subject of this research is the dynamics of competition between regional and external actors for control over the Syrian direction from 2011 to 2025. The object of study is the Syrian conflict as an arena of geopolitical competition where the interests of Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Russia, and the United States intersect. The study examines the evolution of external influence strategies, mechanisms of military-political impact by regional powers, transformation of alliance relationships, and the changing balance of power following the regime change in Damascus in December 2024. The research methodology is based on comparative analysis of foreign policy strategies of regional actors, historical analysis of the evolution of their positions, and examination of official documents, diplomatic agreements, and international arrangements. Special attention is given to Iran's "forward defense" concept, Turkey's strategy of creating security buffer zones, Gulf monarchies' policies supporting opposition structures, Israel's containment tactics against Iranian presence, and global powers' adaptation to new regional realities. The main findings demonstrate that the Syrian conflict led to a reformation of the regional security architecture in the Middle East, characterized by a multilevel system of relationships where tactical alliances prevail over strategic partnerships. The regime change in Damascus fundamentally altered the balance of forces, compelling Iran and Russia to adapt to the loss of a key ally, while Turkey and the United States demonstrated strategic flexibility in building relations with the new leadership. The study's contribution lies in providing a comprehensive analysis of competitive strategies among all key regional actors and identifying the trend toward regionalization of international relations, where local players increasingly rely less on global patrons.

About the authors

Ali Al Asad

Email: ali.99.al.asad@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0009-0001-0220-8951

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