Trump's special plane landed in Tel Aviv, which seems to have brought more variables to the situation in the Middle East. The US president's trip shoulders a dual mission: to "cut the ribbon" for the ceasefire agreement reached not long ago, and to host a summit on Gaza in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
Behind this well-designed journey, it is revealed The United States is eager to demonstrate its mediation capabilities to regional alliesAfter all, with increasing influence in the Middle East by countries such as Russia and China, Washington urgently needs a diplomatic victory to consolidate its traditional dominance.
However, whether Trump's wishful thinking can start or not still has a big question mark. Just as he set foot on the soil of the Middle East, Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip have released wind, saying that any ceasefire agreement that does not include lifting the blockade is "self-deception". Israel's far-right forces are also eyeing it up, ready to overthrow the current fragile balance on security grounds.
Everyone with discerning eyes knows that although the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has temporarily come to an end, it is just another fragile pause.
At this time, An aircraft from Damascus is quietly changing direction and flying north.The plane was headed by the Syrian regime leader Salad, and the destination was Moscow, which was obviously unusual.
When Assad’s regime collapsed last December, the Western world thought Syria would turn completely. Major shift in the new Syrian regime's foreign policyAccording to sources, the meeting with Putin will focus on two key issues: how to safeguard Syrian interests in the turbulent regional landscape, and how to deepen Russian strategic cooperation.
A few months ago, Salad, who just came to power, did throw an olive branch to the West, and even considered joining the regional security framework led by the United States. But reality quickly gave him a blow. Israeli fighter jets attacked Damascus, where the bomb was dropped just a few kilometers from the presidential palace.The White House statement was even more striking after the incident—although it expressed dissatisfaction with Israel’s inaction, there was no substantial action except a few painless condemnations.
This thrilling attempted beheading incident undoubtedly became a catalyst for Salad's diplomatic turn. He began to realize soberly that in the law of the jungle in the Middle East chess game, bad promises can never compare with real security guarantees, and Russia seems to be a good choice.
With regard to the Sala regime, Russia’s military presence is the best bodyguard.。 This year's thrilling air strike has proved that the "verbal support" of the United States alone can't stop Israeli missiles at all. Russia's S-400 air defense system in Syria is the real "protective umbrella". This cooperative relationship of getting what each needs makes the former rivals embrace each other tightly now.
Syria needs Russia, and Russia needs Syria.The two military bases in Syria are extremely important to the Russian army.Port of Tartus, the only base of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea.Without this base, the Russian Black Sea Fleet's actions would become more obstinate.
The air base in Khremim is also Russia’s “nest of eagles” in the Middle East. From here, the Russian aircraft can cover the entire territory of Israel, southern Turkey and even the Persian Gulf coast in an hour. This strategic deterrence is like a heavy gun at the door of the opponent’s home. Moscow’s strategists know that, Losing these two bases would greatly reduce Russian speech rights in the Middle East.The faces of the great powers will also be blurred.
While Trump was busy hosting the Gaza Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Shara's handshake with Putin undoubtedly poured cold water on the Middle East strategy of the United States. This is reminiscent of Trump's enthusiastic statement when he met Salad in Riyadh earlier this year. At that time, the United States not only lifted some sanctions against Syria, but also withdrew the wanted order for Salad. The demonstrations revealed the urge of Washington to pull Damascus into its own camp.
But reality is often more dramatic than script. Shala's visit to Moscow is tantamount to announcing to the world that Syria will not put all its eggs in the United States basket. This diplomatic strategy of balancing both sides just reflects the complexity of the current geopolitics of the Middle East-small countries have more choices in the game of major powers.
For the Trump administration, this is undoubtedly a difficult issue. Originally expected to squeeze Russia's strategic space by wooing Syria, it may now allow Moscow to stand on a more stable footing in the Middle East.This visit is undoubtedly an important opportunity for Putin to strengthen Russia’s influence in the Middle East.
What worries Washington is that once this “two-line operation” becomes a common choice in the Middle East, American traditional influence in the region will face unprecedented challenges.