Putin moves to stabilize Syria, stop extremism and diminish US influence, but the strategy could backfire
Vladimir Putin, determined to revive Russia’s status as a global power, has rapidly mobilized forces to bolster the Assad regime in Syria. He orchestrated a meeting with President Barack Obama at the September U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York, to give the appearance that he is taking charge of ending the Islamic State’s expansion in Iraq and Syria, explains Thomas Graham, expert on Russia and senior fellow at the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs based at Yale University. Russian airstrikes also targeted U.S.-supported rebel groups fighting the Assad regime as well as ISIS locations. In essence, Syria is the site for another brutal proxy war in the Middle East, pitting Russia, Iraq, Iran, Hezbollah forces against the United States, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt and contributing to more conflict, confusion, and waves of refugees. Putin’s moves carry risks, and Russia cannot afford being embroiled in a quagmire. He may have caught the Obama administration by surprise, but the United States still has great capacity to influence the region with its response.
Russian President Vladimir Putin gives an interview focused on Russia's action in Syria, to Russian TV Rossya-1 channel in Sochi, Russia, on Oct. 10, 2015. Alexei Nikolsky/RIA-Novosti via AP
Russian President Vladimir Putin is remaking the Middle East by boldly creating facts on the ground. The recent military buildup and the initial airstrikes against targets inside Syria mark Russia’s return as a major strategic actor for the first time since the Yom Kippur War of 1973 that pitted Arab nations against Israel.
The Kremlin is finding it hard to hide its self-satisfaction with its rapid military intervention in Syria. Tactically it took the United States by complete surprise—even today Washington professes not to know what Russia is up to—and Putin must be bemused as Washington flounders for a response while issuing empty threats and warnings backed up by no concrete action.
Putin stole the show at the United Nations General Assembly. Who remembers that Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a host of other world leaders had gathered to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the U.N. founding?
Russian President Vladimir Putin at the United Nations General Assembly during its 70th session annual meeting in New York City, on Sept. 28, 2015. John Moore/Getty Images
