Russia’s involvement in Syria confuses the West; perplexed

In the latest developments regarding the Syrian crisis that surface, it is probably the Russian President Vladimir Putin, rather than his US counterpart Barack Obama, who emerged the happier man, in the wake of their two big speeches at the United Nations General Assembly

Russia’s growing involvement in Syria continues to greatly complicates Western diplomacy in the region and may potentially even constrain the military operations of the US and its allies. It certainly requires them to maintain a level of co-operation with the Russians.

President Putin has at a stroke reduced Russia’s post-Crimea diplomatic isolation, demonstrated and reinforced Russia’s presence in the Middle East, and also provided an efficient and reasonably impressive demonstration of Moscow’s ability to deploy military force with speed and efficiency.

Russia is also making some headway on the diplomatic front. Putin’s insistence that the existing state structures in Syria must be reinforced as a bulwark against the so-called Islamic State is by no means shared by the US and its allies.

But Washington and a number of European capitals are reluctantly coming to the view that President Assad of Syria may have to ‘stick around’, for a transitional period. Up to now they have been insisting that as the the chief source of instability in the region, he should go straightaway if there is to be any settlement.

In any case, the approach pursued by the coalition assembled around Washington is not exactly a spectacular success. Air strikes against IS in Syria and Iraq are containing rather than defeating the organisation. Military operations are hampered by the absence of any reliable allies on the ground, with the notable exception of the Kurds.

Washington’s efforts to arm the so-called moderate Syrian opposition have descended into near farce: tiny numbers have been fully trained and those despatched into the combat zone have largely been killed or captured, or have handed over their equipment to other militaries.

Source: BBC

• About the Author

About Alpona Dutta

'You'll learn as you get older, that rules are meant to be broken. Live life on your own terms- Go 'gainst the grain, compromise a little but not always...Believe in enjoying life to the fullest!' #Reading #Writing #Travelling #Music #Socialization #love for English.... Love, laugh, live.