Grigory Yavlinsky: Russia has no strategy on Middle East
Grigory Yavlinsky’s Facebook page, 17.03.2016
The military operation in Syria has been stopped suddenly. Why it was put to an end raises as many questions as the reason why it had been started. Nothing has actually changed in Syria: the Islamic State is staying where it was, Bashar al-Assad’s position remains nearly the same, the negotiations with the opposition have not given any results yet and the armistice is very fragile. The Russian military bases will be preserved there. Are they going to withdraw a few thousand people within five months? Curiously enough.
Different versions have been exaggerated amid the silly TV propaganda for the past two days: we have run out money; Bashar al-Assad got out of hand and became an obstacle for political trade with the West; the relations with Iran have deteriorated… However, if one puts off geopolitical hallucinations, it will turn out that, unfortunately, Russia has no strategy no the Middle East. Just as it has neither foreign or any other policy at all. The authorities are guided by momentary impulses of the tactical level. The strategic failures turn out to be the consequences of such ill-thought, habitat and expansive decisions. As a result, the security and interests of the country fall under risk. One cannot remedy these consequences by any decree, order or via a televised address.
Posted: March 18th, 2016 under Foreign policy.