Russia loses its main ally in the Middle East

2024-12-10 16:45:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Ousted Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow after fleeing Damascus on Sunday, where he has been granted political asylum.

The Kremlin was one of Assad's main backers in his government's brutal efforts to defeat the rebels. A few days ago, Moscow's role in Syria seemed unwavering, but now, according to experts, the Kremlin will find it difficult to regain lost ground.

The Syrian opposition flag was raised at the Syrian embassy in Moscow on Monday, an indication that Russia has lost a key ally in the Middle East and must now rethink its strategy and alliances in the region.

The Kremlin granted asylum to the ousted Syrian leader and his family and called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the matter.

For Moscow, the fall of Assad is a heavy blow.

"Moscow's intervention in Syria was a way to show that it is a world power and capable of influencing outside its immediate neighbors. So in terms of geopolitical impacts, it shows that Russia is less powerful than it would like to be seen in the rest of the world," says Kate Johnston of the Center for a New American Security.

Moscow has been involved in Syria's war since 2015 to support Assad, investing resources and the lives of Russian soldiers in what can now be described as a failed investment.

Analysts say it is others who will benefit from the fall of Assad after Syria's 13-year civil war.

"The big winner here is Turkey. Erdogan is very pleased, Trump has suggested that he will withdraw American soldiers from Syria. Turkey's influence in that country becomes more important. So the value of Erdogan and Turkey increases, while Russia decreases," says Mark Hannah of the Institute for Global Affairs.

Kremlin officials said they are in contact with the new authorities, hinting that Moscow wants to reach a deal to maintain its presence in Syria.

But Moscow's role in Assad's oppression of the Syrian people may be a hard memory to forget.

"We saw Russia bombing hospitals, schools, supporting Assad in bombing the population, supporting him when he used chemical weapons. So, I don't think that any future government, whatever its composition, can suddenly forget the atrocities that Russia inflicted on the civilian population", says Neil Quilliam from the organization 'Chatham House'.

Until a month ago, for many it was unimaginable the rapid fall of the government and the destruction of a power structure, creating a new landscape that is currently unclear./ VOA