Russia

Syria's new interim president seems to be wavering between two choices: maintain ties with Moscow despite domestic and international opposition or sever ties and risk alienating a global power

The 'strategic partnership' signing could have been timed to send a message, but a deeper examination reveals it to be a pragmatic alliance borne of a shared enemy rather than shared interests

The bloc's foreign policy is now led by a Russia hawk who takes a sledgehammer to suggestions of appeasing Moscow. No fan of Putin's EU cronies, what will she make of Donald Trump?

The Russia-dominated union has demonstrated impressive growth functioning as an economic bloc but politically not all members see eye to eye

Using information from well-placed sources both in Syria and outside, Al Majalla pieces together events in those 11 momentous days that toppled Bashar al-Assad's regime, shaking Syria and the region

Better than any simulator, multiple conflicts throughout the war-torn region are proving to be a boon for the testing and showcasing of weapons, and the battle-hardening of fighters

Russia's claim of being a steadfast guarantor of security for allies has been dented, which could affect its expansion into Africa and Latin America and strain its ties with Central Asian countries

NATO's secretary general tells Al Majalla it's up to Kyiv to set the timing and conditions for talks with Moscow and affirms the alliance's strong ties with the Gulf and growing unease with China

The signs are bad but there is international agreement when it comes to Syria. If they act now, Arab states can still re-establish control over events, but the usual statements of support won't cut it

The opposition fighters making such strides on the battlefield want to carry on all the way to Damascus. For everyone else, there are reasons to call a halt to proceedings sooner rather than later