To this day, the Kremlin sometimes gives the impression of having not
yet realized the fundamental differences between the Soviet Union and the
Russian Federation and the impossibility of reversing history. This mentality
contributes to Russia’s desire to demonstrate at least some kind of military and
political presence in the Middle East. Moscow hopes to hold on to the vestiges
of the former Soviet base in the Syrian port of Tartus, for example, which is
the sole remaining Russian military base in the region.