... just as a gesture of goodwill from Trump but as means for the U.S. to exert leverage over Syria’s new leadership.
Third
, the sanctions relief comes with significant strings attached. Trump expects the new Syrian authorities to take steps that are quite ... ... example, during a surprise meeting with Syria’s new president on May 14, the U.S. leader
urged
him to normalize relations with Israel (potentially by joining the Abraham Accords or striking a new deal). This is a particularly difficult move, as it is likely ...
... impact on the Israeli public opinion and on the country’s leadership, particularly during Yair Lapid's tenure as Prime Minister (the second half of 2022). However, despite a strong pressure from the West and a rise of pro-Ukrainian sentiments at home, Israel chose not to subscribe to US or EU sanctions imposed on Moscow and decided against direct deliveries of Israeli-made lethal arms to Ukraine (though the official explanation of the latter decision offered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was linked not to Russia’s interests,...
... would have to pay an immense political cost, as Russian missiles are subject to US sanctions. The contract on the S-400 or even S-300 (both systems are produced by the company Almaz-Antey) may expose Iraq to such sanctions. That said, the threat of sanctions did not prevent China, Turkey or India from buying the weapons.
Russia, in turn, should it sell defense systems to Iraq, may find that maintaining its “special relations” with Israel is challenging.
Second, Iraq can be certain that Moscow takes this request seriously, considering that it strives to maintain stability in this country and in the region in general, and keep its own interests there intact. The interests primarily ...
