Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 30
By Anakhanum Khidayatova - Trend:
The possible combining of Russia-US efforts against the Islamic State in Syria is a positive step in fixing these relations, Theodore Karasik, the Middle East analyst and senior advisor to Risk Insurance Management in Dubai, UAE, told Trend Sept. 30.
"Russian President Vladimir Putin's move has re opened ties between not only mutual defense officials but also between intelligence agencies," the expert said.
The expert said that Russia is responding to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by not only deploying sophisticated military equipment for air operations but also small, mobile forces for offensive and defensive operations.
"The Syrian president knows that Russia's historical and geopolitical view fit Assad's immediate demands for now," he said. "That's an important point because the Syrian president knows that his time may be up but his country's future is more salient with the Kremlin's support."
Karasik said that Russia's strategic move into Syria is only part of the Kremlin's larger plan for the Near East and North Africa.
"Moscow is already establishing robust relations not only with Egypt but also is growing in presence in other key Arab countries," he said. "In the maritime security sector, Russia is using the Tartus model to expand a network of naval berths throughout the Mediterranean and the Red Sea."
During a meeting in New York, Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama agreed on a possible joint fight against the Islamic State.
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