Russian President Vladimir Putin
The Russian authorities have been avoiding the topic of Syria as the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, who reportedly fled to Russia, has fallen. The future of Russian military bases in Syria is now under threat. This was reported by The New York Times on Monday, 16 December.
At a recent meeting of the Kremlin leadership, chaired by President Vladimir Putin and Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, they discussed the war in Ukraine, the threat to NATO and social initiatives for the military, but not a word was said about Syria, a country where Russia has maintained a military presence for years.
“Moscow’s silence underscores the uncertainty about the future of Russian military bases in Syria and shows that the Kremlin has concentrated all its resources on the war against Ukraine,” the newspaper notes.
Syria as a painful topic for Putin
The fall of the Assad regime is a serious geopolitical defeat for Putin, who is seeking to revive Russia’s “greatness” in the international arena. Supporting Assad has long demonstrated the Kremlin’s ambitions in the Middle East and Russia’s emergence as a key player in the region.
However, the Russian leadership is currently silent on this issue, as Putin’s priority is the war in Ukraine. The publication emphasises that the Russian president is convinced of his strategic superiority, both at the front and in the global confrontation with the West.
“Putin believes he can ‘survive’ Ukraine on the battlefield, especially in the context of changing political moods in Western countries. In particular, leaders who are sceptical about supporting Kyiv, led by newly elected US President Donald Trump, are growing in popularity,” the NYT writes.
Russia is focused on Ukraine
During the meeting, Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov stressed that the “top priority” was to ensure victory in the war against Ukraine. Any plans for the Middle East or Syria remain off the agenda.
The European Union, for its part, has already announced its intention to raise the issue of closing Russian military bases in Syria during negotiations with the new government.
“The situation in Syria demonstrates how the war in Ukraine has changed the Kremlin’s strategic priorities. Russia, which once confidently expanded its influence in the Middle East, is now forced to limit its ambitions by focusing all its efforts on the Ukrainian front,” The New York Times concludes.
Meanwhile, Putin’s silence on Assad may reflect Moscow’s anxiety over the possible loss of important positions in the region and Russia’s growing international isolation.
