Taras J. Kobishchanov

The actual Russian military-political presence in Syria makes to reveal the events happened there more than two centuries ago. During the Russian-Ottoman war of 1768–1774 Russia became the first European country that invaded to the Middle East in the Modern times and even for the short time occupied the part of it: the city of Beirut. The repetition of the Russian navy’s Mediterranean expedition was preparing during the next war of 1787–1791. One of its results should be the separation of Egypt and the part of Syria from the Ottoman Empire as a result of ‘diversions’, as in the diplomatic correspondence were named the secret agreements with the separatist-minded local leaders. The approval by Catherine II of the Ottoman Empire’s partition project known as “Greek Plan”, the involvement of Crimea into Russian’s influence area and its further annexation in 1783 are laying between two those events. The presented article analyzes the chances for the Crimean scenario to be repeated in Syria if the Sweden aggression in 1788 would not thwart the prepared transfer of the Baltic navy to the Eastern Mediterranean.

A numerous code of studies dedicated to Egyptian and Syrian campaign of Napoleon Bonaparte (1798–1801) disregards the participation of Russia in struggle of the 2nd anti-French coalition for Egypt and Syria. At the same time, even though the tsarist government didn't wage any war in the Middle East, its role in the events that took place, was rather notable. The represented article is devoted to the analysis of the Middle Eastern policy of Russia during the reign of Paul the First and also tells about the plans of Ottoman authorities concerning possible involvement of its northern ally for defending Arab possessions from French aggression.