Moscow (TDI): The world could not help but recall Russia’s backing of the Assad regime in the deadly Syrian civil war as President Putin received current Syrian President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, at the Kremlin.
al-Sharaa is the leader of the rebel faction whom Bashar al-Assad’s forces and allies fought against until the rebels ousted Assad regime in December last year.
But the tone of Wednesday’s meeting between the two leaders sounded like a fresh start, where al-Sharaa said he desires to “restore and redefine” relations with Moscow.
“We are trying to restore and redefine in a new way the nature of these relations so there is independence for Syria, sovereign Syria, and also its territorial unity and integrity and its security stability,” he said.
Some of the men that Syria seeks to bring back for trials of war crimes enjoy Moscow’s protection right now; the most important being Assad himself, who flee to Moscow after ouster and remains in the country.
Read More: Syria, Israel Edge Toward Security Deal Under US Pressure
“We have granted asylum to Bashar al-Assad and his family for purely humanitarian reasons. He has no issues residing in our capital,” Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said at a forum, on Monday.
As Putin received Sharaa, there was no mention of Assad and the fighting in the past. He only spotlighted Moscow and Cairo as having decades old relationship; which has “never been tied to our political circumstances.”
The statements by the two leaders indicate that both countries are willing to take their relationship forward not by way of discord but by way of strategic interest.
Russia has two bases in Syria – the naval base in Tartus and air base at Hmeimim. In addition, as Sharaa himself said “We have close relations with Russia, and a large part of the energy sector in Syria depends on Russian expertise.”
The crude oil industry, rebuilding after years of civil war, and the still active rebellion in the southern parts of Syria; are the reasons why Sharaa is approaching Moscow strategically. There is no way both countries can cut off ties; even when Moscow backed Sharaa’s rival and predecessor.
Established in December 2008, The Diplomatic Insight is Pakistan’s premier diplomacy and foreign affairs magazine, available in both digital and print formats.
