Episode Notes:

After the Assad regime fell in Syria, many in the West hoped it would mean a deterioration of Russian-Syrian relations. Time has shown that Moscow's interest in Syria was never about Assad himself; it was always a strategic play to secure a foothold in the country, driven largely by Syria's geographic location. Anna Borshchevskaya joins the show to unpack Russia's long game in Syria and shares some compelling personal anecdotes that inform her work.

Notes: You can find Anna's book on this topic here, and listen to her most recent Congressional testimony here.

Image: Presidential Executive Office of Russia via Wikimedia Commons