... against Western interests in Ukraine and the Black Sea. The result is ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine and economic sanctions against Russia. Turkey, on the other hand, is close to being isolated from international affairs. Turkey has historically been NATO’s ally. Still, Washington is supporting the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Syria, which is considered in Ankara as a branch of the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK), which regularly organizes terrorist attacks in Turkey. The coup attempt, which put Turkey’s relations with its Western partners into further trouble, made ...
... wants the U.S. to defer to Russia in Syria and let it “fight ISIS” there, and agreed with Putin’s backing of Syrian's murderous President Bashar al-Assad.
Trump is against the U.S. taking a large role in helping Ukraine defend ... ... Russian journalists critical of Putin.
Most recently, Trump signaled less-than-enthusiastic, vague, and conditional support for NATO and has calling it “obsolete,” while the weakening of NATO is a chief aim of Putin.
*****
But ties to Russia ...
... leaders, bureaucracies and the militaries to avoid further escalation, as well as an early involvement of the UN Security Council as the main body responsible for maintaining international peace and security.
We also note that the developments around Syria confirm and reinforce the case made in our previous Position Paper regarding the need to work on a Memorandum of Understanding between NATO and the Russian Federation on the Rules of Behaviour for the Safety of Air and Maritime Encounters. [
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Finally, we believe that lessening of tensions between Turkey and Russia, paving a way for the resumption of bilateral cooperation, would have ...
... twice in the Balkans that Europe was incapable of dealing with major conflicts in its own backyard without help and, more importantly, leadership from the United States. Since then, it has failed to effectively deal with conflict in Libya, Ukraine, and Syria, all within or near its periphery. The situation in Syria has led to refugee and migrant crises unseen in the world or Europe since WWII; Europe’s response has been grossly inadequate and the influx of refugees has been one of the main catalysts ...
... consolidated position of the West. For the first time since the invasion to Afghanistan back in 1979, the Kremlin used military force outside the boundaries of the former Soviet Union. For the first time, a Russian military aircraft was grounded by a NATO member country (Turkey). For the first time, Russia became a central player in a large-scale war right in the heart of the Middle East.
When Western experts and Kremlin watchers analyze the Russian strategy in Syria, they usually single out three goals that Moscow allegedly pursues in this conflict: to rescue the Russian client in the region namely Bashar al Assad and his regime, to diminish the US influence in the Middle East, and to support Shiites against ...
... weaknesses, primarily in the use of aircraft, intelligence, enemy air defense suppression, coordination, and control of operations.
I will not oppose the viewpoint that, theoretically, Russia has the capability to pose a military threat to the USA and other NATO members. But first and foremost, Russia’s actions jeopardize the U.S. political influence. Washington fears that Russian operation in Syria is not a one-time response to the threat posed by the self-proclaimed “Islamic State”, but the beginning of a long-term consolidation of Russian position in the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean. Strengthening of Moscow-Damascus,...
... persistent appeals to maintain hard attitude in relation to official Damascus. The Director of the Science and Politics foundation Volker Perthes having close ties with the German Government
recommended
to proceed with planning of potential actions of NATO regarding Syria depending on the circumstances that will unfold.
The remarkable fact is that the above mentioned “Science and Politics” foundation jointly with the American Institute of Peace with the participation of representatives of the Syrian opposition ...
... Vinogradov
Yuri Barmin:
Following the Downing of its Su-24 Russia
Changes the Rules of the Game in Syria
Most Americans are never going to agree with Russia's actions in Syria and Ukraine, and most Russians are never going to agree with America's actions in Syria and Ukraine. But a good first step toward peace in these and all conflicts is to refrain from fighting. Russia has refrained from fighting with Turkey and thereby saved the NATO alliance from a potentially devastating existential crisis. The United States and its allies should reciprocate by canceling their economic sanctions on Russia.
Russia and the West may never be allies or even partners, but they can and should live ...
... fighter jet that may or may not have violated its airspace, which would normally be seen as an act of war, clearly took NATO aback. The Alliance released a low-key statement following the incident, and according to some accounts there was no unity within NATO over Ankara’s response to alleged violation of its border.
Russia’s reaction to the downing of its jet was harsh diplomatically, yet very pragmatic strategically. Moscow has shifted the security balance in the region in the Syrian government’s favor as well as made sure that Turkey’s military acts with more restraint from now on. More importantly, however, Russia sent a clear signal to the West that it also has “red lines” in Syria, which cannot be ...
... well as "unforeseen incidents" if Russian and NATO military forces were to come into contact. That scenario may only deepen the ongoing crisis. And the document seems ever more significant against the backdrop of Russia’s campaign in Syria, where an international coalition with NATO participation also operates.
Of course, an incident involving Russian and NATO combat aircraft is not particularly probable, although the odds are certainly above zero. And if such a collision may cause a conflict between nuclear powers, it must ...
