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Russia, Turkey, Syria alliance shows US power in decline in ME: Analyst

Sunday, 18 December 2016 3:56 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 18 December 2016 3:57 PM ]

Syrians walk along a destroyed street in the old city of Aleppo on December 17, 2016, as pro-government forces re-open roads that were barricaded to divide militant- and government-held areas. (Photo by AFP)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has held phone conversations with his Iranian and Turkish counterparts to discuss the unfolding situation in Syria. The three ministers have urged the facilitation of a political resolution to the conflict in Syria.

Mark Weber, director of Institute for Historical Review, believes Turkey’s alignment with Russia and Iran over Syria indicates a "major shift" in constellation of power in the Middle East, adding that it reflects a "steady" and "dramatic" decline in US influence in the region.

“This collaboration among Russia, Iran, [and] Syria and now at least to some extent with Turkey is part of a really dramatic change that is taking place and it is part of a major disaster by the United States ... and also a great miscalculation by [US President] Barack Obama’s administration in Syria,” the analyst told Press TV in an interview on Sunday.

He opined that a political solution can only be worked out in cooperation with the Syrian government, because it is by far the most important political factor in the region.

Weber said the fact that President Bashar al-Assad is still in power in Syria despite United States rhetoric that ‘Assad must go’ is an important reflection of the change that is taking place in the Middle East.

According to the analyst, Turkey has already reversed its policy with regard to Russia and as part of an effort to mend its relations with Moscow, the Turkish government will inevitably change its policy towards Syria.

Russia and Turkey have been parties to a ceasefire agreement in Aleppo, the Syrian city in the northwest that has seen the purge of militants by pro-government forces over the past few weeks. The truce, which has seen periodic halts over the past two days, is meant to evacuate tens of thousands of trapped civilians as well as militants who have agreed to stop fighting and be transferred to other Syrian territories.

Moscow and Ankara support the opposing sides of the conflict in Syria and the two have military presence in the Arab country.

Iran has supported Syria’s anti-terror drive by sending advisors to help the country’s military in the fight against militants. Tehran has always highlighted that the conflict in Syria has no military solution and the only way out of the crisis would be for the Syrians to engage in dialogue.

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