Syrian Tsugzvang Putin

The Turkish army began the capture of the border zone in the north of Syria. The purpose of the Operation “Source of the World” is the creation of a 30-kilometer buffer zone along the entire Turkish-Syrian border. This “security zone” should fenced Turkey from territories controlled by combat organizations of the Kurds, which Ankara considers terrorist. In addition, it is precisely to this security zone that hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees, which are now in Turkish territory, are planned to be directed. The Turks with heavy artillery, tanks and aviation have obvious military superiority over the Kurds. Therefore, the outcome of the operation is not in doubt.

The “green light” of the military operation was given by the owner of the White House. On Sunday, Donald Trump puzzled his own diplomats and generals, announcing the withdrawal of American military personnel from the north of Syria. It was the presence of these US military in the combat formations of Kurdish "Syrian democratic forces" (SDS) that was the main restraining factor for Ankara. I must say that the leadership of the SDS had every reason to name Trump’s decision “with a blow to the back”. It was the Kurdish formations that were the main ally of the American military during the fight against ISIS terrorists. It was the Kurds who were the main shock force that stormed Rakka, the capital of the terrorist “Islamic Caliphate”. And now the United States actually abandoned obligations regarding the former ally.

For Trump, certainly there are no permanent allies, but there are definitely constant interests, primarily economic ones. Experts indicate: the promise of Erdogan is five times to increase Turkish turnover with the United States has become a decisive factor when making a decision on the withdrawal of US troops. In addition, Trump, which has already begun actually a pre -election campaign, clearly wants to show that he fulfills the promises given to voters in 2016.

It must be admitted that with all the moral doubtfulness of the operation with the withdrawal of American troops, as well as the ambiguity of its geopolitical consequences, Trump's decision looks at least rational. This is a return to the famous “Powell’s principles”, which declared that military force should be used only there and where and when the vital interests of the United States are affected. Starting with the invasion of Iraq in 2003, Washington, who was in rapture from absolute superiority over any possible enemy, was involved in local conflicts, in which it is impossible to win in principle.

The inevitable departure of Americans from Syria convincingly demonstrates the meaninglessness of the Russian troops there. In recent months, it was the incorrect actions of the Americans, according to the statements of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the main obstacle to political settlement in Syria. The Americans were accused for a clear reason: in addition to them, all other participants in the confrontation - Türkiye, Kurds, Assad regime, Iran - are listed as allies or partners of Russia. Having been with them endless negotiations on political settlement, Moscow expects to establish the world in Syria.

One problem: each participant in these negotiations has a clear obvious interest. The Kurds have their own state in Syria, in extreme cases, autonomy with extremely broad powers. In Turkey - to separate from the Kurdish state. Assad has to ensure control over most of the country. In Iran - to ensure the subordination of Assad. In addition to the chatter on the struggle in foreign territory with terrorists who arrived from Russia, the Kremlin cannot clearly formulate their interests in Syria. And now, when one “partner” begins to destroy another, Moscow is absolutely helpless. “In the light of the plans announced by Turkey, Vladimir Putin, Vladimir Putin, called for the military operation in the northeast of Syria, called on the Turkish partners to carefully weigh the situation so as not to damage the general efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis. At the same time, the importance of ensuring the unity and territorial integrity of Syria, the respect of its sovereignty was noted on both sides, ”muttered the Kremlin press service. AU, Vladimir Vladimirovich, there is a big war again, people are killed there. And you urge to "carefully weigh the situation."

Someone will say that European politicians escaped with equally meaningless calls to Erdogan (while Trump, frightened by the sharp reaction of the Washington establishment to his betrayal, has already threatened to destroy the Turkish economy in the event of "continuing the extermination of the Kurds"). However, there is a significant difference between them and Putin. Unlike European states, Russia has been directly involved in the Syrian Civil War for four years. They explained to us for a long time that this, they say, is evidence of “getting up from the knees”, the return of the authority, which the Soviet Union allegedly possessed in the Middle East. So why is this authority not used? Moscow did not put forward any proposals for the exit from the crisis. The only thing that is proposed is negotiations between the Kurds and Assad, who considers the Turkish operation aggression.

A few weeks ago, taking Erdogan in Moscow, Putin made a fantastic somersault, saying that "the creation of a security zone for Turkey on its southern borders will be a good condition for ensuring the territorial integrity of Syria itself." In fact, if we assume that Damascus and Kurds agree, this means: they will make a joint front against the “Turkish aggressor”. There will be no trace of hopes for political settlement.

Like it, the Turkish military operation clearly demonstrates: Moscow does not have any positive Syrian settlement program.


Photo: 1. Türkiye began the military operation "Source of the World" in Syria. Lefteris Pitarakis/AP/TASS
2. Russia, Leningrad region. 12/24/1999. With a visit to secondary school No. 9, a stay in the city of Sosnovy Bor of the Leningrad Region, Chairman of the Government of Russia Vladimir Putin, began. He is here on a working trip. The Prime Minister examined school rooms, talked with teachers. The students invited Vladimir Putin to play chess (in the picture), but the prime minister refused, citing the fact that the Governor of the Leningrad Region Valery Serdyukov had already played and lost to the teacher of this school with a chess slope. Sergey Smolsky/TASS