Biden warns Russia and China are flexing their muscles in the Middle East: ‘Allies matter’
JERUSALEM. Two of the world’s most authoritarian leaders – Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, who are responsible for the bloodiest wars of the 21st century – met in the Kremlin on Thursday to discuss Moscow’s expanding military presence in Syria.
The pact between America’s two greatest enemies raises new questions about whether the Biden administration is on the defensive and rapidly losing influence in a critical region of the world.
“We think the expansion of the Russian presence in Syria is a good thing,” Assad said in an interview with the state news agency RIA. “Russia’s military presence in any country should not be based on something temporary.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad meet at the Kremlin in Moscow on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. (Vladimir Gerdo, Sputnik, Kremlin pool, photo via AP)
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When Putin intervened in the Syrian civil war in 2015, it helped tip the scales in Assad’s favor, ensuring the Syrian leader’s survival despite Western demands for his ouster. Assad waged a war against his own population that resulted in over 500,000 deaths, including Syrians killed with chemical weapons.
The expected increase in the presence of Russian troops and military bases in Syria will be another challenge to the Middle East policy of the Biden administration. US national security experts see China and Russia bypass the US in a region where Washington has historically had great influence.
Rebecca Koffler, a former analyst with the US Defense Intelligence Agency, told Fox News Digital that Putin began outmaneuvering the US in the Middle East with President Obama when Biden was his vice president.
“Putin tricked Obama and Biden into allowing the Russians to move chemical weapons out of Syria back in 2013. Instead, the Russians saw an opportunity and seized the opportunity to build up their military presence in an attempt to tip the balance in the Middle East. in favor of Russia. Putin is building an anti-American coalition: Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, Syria,” she said.
Koffler, author of The Putin Book, added that the Russian leader “wants the Biden administration to think he can help with the Iranian nuclear deal, the Syrian peace settlement, but in reality, Putin will not do anything that would be in line with the strategic US interests, especially now that the US is supporting Ukraine. The security interests of the United States and Russia are diametrically opposed.”
Fox News Digital reported this week that America’s three main adversaries – Russia, China and Iran plan to hold joint naval exercises in the Gulf of Oman. Just over a week ago, China brokered a reconciliation deal between sworn enemies Saudi Arabia and the Iranians.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad receives a guard of honor during a welcoming ceremony in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, March 14, 2023. (Sana via hotspot)
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US Representative State Department told Fox News Digital: “The evidence for Russia is clear. No matter where they are involved in the hostilities, local civilians are paying the price for the Kremlin’s destructive strategy that kills civilians in Putin’s interests. This is clear from Russia’s military campaigns in Syria, Libya and Ukraine, where they use the military and paramilitaries to exploit civilians in conflict zones to further Moscow’s own vested interests.”
The spokesman added: “Russia’s military campaign in Syria in support of the Assad regime has resulted in massive destruction and the death or displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians. These military operations are undermining the conditions for a political settlement of the Syrian conflict, and Russia has made no real effort to bring about meaningful change in the Syrian government’s horrendous behavior towards its own people.”
A State Department spokesman stressed that “Russia should focus on moving forward with a political resolution in Syria, as outlined by the UN Security Council.” Resolution 2254not cause more suffering to the Syrian people.” Resolution 2254, eight years old, outlines a peace process to end the bloodshed in Syria.
Michael Rubin, Senior Fellow and Middle East Expert at the American Enterprise Institute, told Fox News Digital: “Allied support matters. Russia did not hesitate to support its ally. Assad will not only reward Putin, but send a signal to everyone else.” leader in the region. It’s not just about Russia’s embrace of Syria. We are talking about Russian courtship of Egypt and Saudi Arabia.”
Rubin added: “We have to bring policies in line with this reality. Syrian Kurds even allies and friends. If Turkey backs Islamist proxies and Russia doubles down on Assad, we should double down on the Kurds. They are more progressive, capable fighters and want a pro-Western orientation. The question is not only what the United States should do, but also what it should not do.”
Syria is a fragmented country controlled by Turkey, the Syrian Kurds, Russia and Assad.
Rubin said: “This confirms that Syria will not be unified. At best, with Turkey occupying the zone and now Russia redoubling its efforts, Syria will become the new Somalia of the 1990s era, divided into zones of influence and ruled by different local warlords.”
Syrian refugees pose for a photograph after their tents were flooded by rain at a makeshift refugee camp in the eastern Lebanese town of Al-Fawr, near the border with Syria. (AP)
Rubin warned of the dangers of sending aid to the Syrian regime. “Any funding that we provide to international organizations under the guise of helping to rebuild Syria is essentially rewarding the Russian protege for the massacres. Money is fungible. What we are giving in the name of reconstruction is essentially helping Assad and Putin build a base. The fact that Assad is offering these shows is where his priorities are. Let’s not be naive,” he said.
During his visit, Assad delivered a number of material rewards to Moscow. Assad told Putin: “We believe that if Russia has a desire to expand bases or increase their number, then this is a technical or logistical issue.”
“It is beneficial for Russia to have more bases in Syria, and Putin is likely to accept this offer,” Koffler warned. “With Russian and US forces already operating in close proximity to Syria, expanding Russia’s foothold in the region gives Putin more leverage and Russian forces more opportunity to gather intelligence on US warfare tactics, military hardware, etc. The Russians are exploring ways to conducting the US war. carefully to find vulnerabilities and develop counter strategies.”
Syria stood by Russia in the issue of UkraineAssad said. “Since this is my first visit since the start of the special operation in Ukraine, I would like to reiterate Syria’s position in support of this special operation,” Assad told Putin, according to the Kremlin transcript.
Syria recognizes the territories of Ukraine occupied by Russia as Russian, Assad said. “I say that these are Russian territories, and even if there were no war, these are historically Russian territories,” Assad told RIA.
Syrian men walk between buildings destroyed by bombs in Aleppo, Syria, October 3. 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Sana, file)
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Assad’s years as president were defined by a conflict that began in 2011 with peaceful protests and then escalated into a multilateral conflict that fractured. middle eastern country and attracts foreign friends and enemies.
He rebuilt most of his state with the help of Russia and Iran, aided by the fact that his allies have always been more committed to his survival than his enemies to his defeat.
Along with the Khmeimim air base, from which Russia launches airstrikes in support of Assad, Moscow also controls the Tartus naval facility in Syria, the only naval foothold in the Mediterranean that has been in use since the days of the Soviet Union.
In January, the Russian Defense Ministry said Russia and Syria had re-established the al-Jarra military airbase in northern Syria for joint use. A small base east of Aleppo was recaptured from Islamic State militants in 2017. Press inquiries sent to the Russian government were not answered.
Reuters contributed to this report.