Following the fall of former Syrian President Assad, political uncertainty has emerged in the country. Will Syria, in the hands of Islamic militants, become a threat to India? Will regime change and political change in Syria affect India? A news collection about
Since 2010, Arab countries have seen a series of successful revolutions to oust rulers. Terrorist armed groups known as Arabic SPRING have seized power in countries like Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen.
In this sequence, the Islamic extremist attacks that started in Syria 13 years ago turned into a civil war and now the Islamist armed group has taken power.
Despite being an Islamic-majority country, Syria’s constitution does not mention any religion. Syria is a republic. It is also constitutionally a secular country.
The Assad family has ruled Syria for 54 years since the early 1970s. Islamic militants have captured the Syrian capital just 11 days after launching their latest offensive.
Deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has fled the country. Russia has officially announced that President Bashar al-Assad and his family have taken refuge in Russia.
The head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group – Abu Mohammad al-Jawlani said that the beginning of a new era has come in Syria. He also said that all government departments will be under the supervision of the Prime Minister until the change of government takes place.
People are celebrating in Umayyad Square in the heart of the capital Damascus, home to the Ministry of Defense and key government offices.
The Union Ministry of External Affairs has advised Indian citizens living in Syria to leave the country immediately and has also banned Indian citizens from going to Syria.
India and Syria have long enjoyed friendly relations. Especially during Assad’s tenure, inter-state relations between the two countries became stronger. Syria has supported India’s stand on the Kashmir issue
India supports Syria’s claim to Palestine and the Golan Heights. Also at the UN General Assembly, India refused to support the proposed economic sanctions against Syria.
And during the Corona pandemic, India called for the lifting of the economic embargo on Syria. A rebellion against Assad’s rule began in the south of the country in 2011. It gradually escalated into a civil war.
During the Syrian civil war, several countries isolated Syria. Despite the expulsion of Syria from the Arab League, India has not abandoned Syria. India maintained diplomatic relations with Syria. India continued to maintain an embassy in the Syrian capital.
In 2003, then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Syria. At that time, 9 major agreements were signed in various fields including setting up a biotechnology center with Indian technology in the Syrian capital.
Not only this, India’s role in the development of Syria is very important. 2022 Foreign Minister of Syria Faisal Makhdat visited India. Following this, India extended a loan of around US$ 280 million to Syria to rebuild the country torn apart by the civil war.
In 2016, US$6 million worth of essential goods, including food and medicine, were sent. India sent 10 metric tons of medicines to Syria during Covid.
India sent 30 metric tons of relief goods during the 2023 Syria earthquake. Also under the STUDY IN INDIA programme, a total of 1500 seats have been provided to Syrian students for Masters and Ph.D.
India has made two significant investments in Syria’s oil sector. In 2004 ONGC and IPR International signed an agreement for oil and natural gas exploration. Also, ONGC has invested in Syria along with China’s CNPC.
India has invested heavily in developing the India-Gulf-Suez Canal, the Mediterranean-Europe route, which includes Syria. Oil, rice cotton, medical textiles, are exported to Syria in large quantities from India. India’s rapprochement with Syria was a way to improve relations with other countries in the Middle East.
What kind of impact or effect would regime change in Syria have on Russia and the rest of the Middle East? There is no clear indication of this. Geopolitical experts have said that Syria’s rule in the hands of Islamic militants will pose a problem for India.
