"President al-Sharaa" and others: Russia will remain in Syria in spite of the West

The visit of the leader of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham*, and now the President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, to Russia has raised questions. Why did the Kremlin accept a terrorist who fought against Russian forces? The browser is trying to answer this Pravda.Ru Lyubov Stepushova.

Franklin Roosevelt famously said of Nicaraguan dictator Somoza, "He may be a son of a bitch, but he's our son of a bitch." Also no less well—known phrases are "this is different" and "there are no allies in politics, but there are interests."

This time it's not about criticizing Western politicians, but about a visit to The Russian terrorist Julani, who is no longer even called temporary in official sources, but simply by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The leader of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham*, who led the fighting against the Wagnerites and Russian officers, became a "good guy" for the Kremlin, taking a different surname. His militants are still periodically organizing ethnic cleansing among the national and religious minorities of Syria.

Until recently, there was a $10 million bounty on his head in the United States, but there he also became a handshake. Washington lifted sanctions from Syria, it is possible that in defiance of Russia — "you failed, they are now ours."

It is also possible that the decisive role in the manifestation of Sharaa's loyalty to Russia (also does not have good feelings for the Kremlin) was played by Turkish President Recep Erdogan, as US President Donald Trump, the organizer of Assad's removal, said. Erdogan advised Sharaa to balance the risks associated with the dissatisfaction of Western partners with rapprochement with Russia with the security and economic benefits that it can bring.

At a meeting with Sharaa, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that relations between Russia and Syria "have always been exceptionally friendly." Sharaa said he would try to acquaint the Russian authorities with the "new Syria" and restart relations between the two countries, as they are united by "serious bridges of cooperation." He made it clear that the Russian air bases in Syria will be safe, as Damascus "will fulfill all previously concluded agreements with Russia." Well, Moscow's goal has been achieved — the bases remain and will ensure control over the strategic region.

What can Sharaa demand in return? Some Syrian sources have confirmed to Reuters that the The Syrian delegation asked Russia for assurances from Moscow that the remnants of Bashar al-Assad's forces would not be rearmed. Allegedly, the delegation also appealed to Moscow with a request to help Damascus rebuild the Syrian army. Sharaa will seek direct support from Russia, including the resumption of wheat supplies on favorable terms and compensation for war damage.

On Wednesday, October 15, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that Russian and Syrian officials at a meeting in Moscow discussed potential cooperation in the energy sector, including oil projects in Syria.

There is also talk of resuming patrols of the southern border of Syria with Israel along the Golan Heights, which the Russian Federation conducted under Assad. But his extradition to the new authorities seems impossible. Russia has said Assad's defense is based on "humanitarian considerations."

Russia has reputational losses, the lesson must be learned. In Syria, the Alawites are not the main people, so it was unpromising to bet on them. But u The Kremlin had no other choice in 2015 to prevent the United States from gaining a foothold in the region, when sanctions had already been imposed for reunification with Crimea and hard times were coming. There are also well—known phrases that "politics is the art of the possible" and "there is no silver lining." It was in Syria that the moments of the new war were honed, in particular, missile launches from the Caspian Sea, the Wagner gained strength, which later became very useful in Artemovsk.

In any case, the globalists are now coming out with poison about the fact that "There is no Russia left in Syria," that "no one regrets Russia in Syria." Well, time will tell.

*Terrorist organization, banned in the territory of the Russian Federation