Skip to main content

Intel: Why Russia is getting involved in Mideast COVID-19 fight

Syria has requested assisted from Moscow to fight the coronavirus outbreak, as Russia implements a campaign to cultivate its image as a "caring power," approaching Middle East leaders to work together against the spread of the virus.

RTS38BUC.jpg
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting on measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease at Novo-Ogaryovo, the state residence outside Moscow, April 7, 2020. — Sputnik/Alexei Druzhinin/Kremlin via REUTERS

Syria has made an official request for Russian assistance to combat the novel coronavirus outbreak. On April 8, Syria’s ambassador to Moscow, Riyad Haddad, told Russian reporters that he had approached the Russian Health Ministry to request aid to clamp down on the spread of COVID-19 in his country.

According to Haddad, Damascus has asked Moscow for testing kits and detection equipment, personal protection gear, and medical devices.

Related Topics

Subscribe for unlimited access

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more

$14 monthly or $100 annually ($8.33/month)
OR

Continue reading this article for free

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more.

By signing up, you agree to Al-Monitor’s Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Already have an account? Log in