US officials and the Syrian Kurds have announced in recent weeks that they have agreed to optimize oil facilities in northeastern Syria and increase oil production through an American oil company. This has led to strong opposition from Russia, one of the major players in Syria.

The US-based Modern Russia think tank says Russia's anger over the Kurdish-US oil deal in northeastern Syria is not unreasonable. "Russia has always tried to take control of all areas in Syria, including the Syrian Kurdish region and its oil and gas wells, as well as the Syrian central government; but the recent agreement between the Kurds and the United States has made it difficult for Russia to achieve the goal,” the think tank wrote in a note.

The institute believes that Russia will not stop trying to control the oil-rich region under the control of the Syrian Kurds, and this could increase tensions between the United States and Russia.

Modern Russia does not rule out the possibility of another military action to take control of Kurdish-controlled oil fields, noting that Russia had made a failed attempt to seize Kurdish-controlled oil fields in 2018.

The think tank considers two scenarios for Russia's control of Syrian Kurdish-controlled oil fields. According to this analysis, the easiest way to control these fields is the US complete withdrawal from Syria. Another way for Russia to control the Kurdish-controlled oil fields is an agreement between Russia and Syria and the Kurds on the division of the region's oil resources.

The institute, meanwhile, has linked everything to the outcome of the US presidential election that is to be conducted this fall.

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