Paraskinio – May 27, 2017, issue 580, p. 56

Following in the takeover of the new White House leadership, a road race has begun between the United States and Russia to influence the Middle East in particular and the world in general. The international role of the United States during the presidency of former President Barack Obama has weakened significantly. Obama has chosen to distance himself from direct international crises and has sought compromises, most often unsuccessfully. This US approach has led the Russian administration, under Putin’s leadership, to rebuild its bases in the Middle East after the loss of key allies in the region, such as Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein.

Russia, after redefining its influence in the region, has managed to establish a stable foothold in Syrian territory through the creation of more than nine military bases and the deployment of 5,000 Russian troops. In this way it gained the upper hand in resolving the Syrian crisis and the future of the country. In Libya, Russia was able to fill the gap left by the United States after the overthrow of former President Gaddafi, without drawing up a plan to rebuild the country’s administration. A reliable source confirmed to me the existence of two hidden Russian bases on Libyan soil, which provide air support and logistical infrastructure to General Haftar’s forces, led by Libyan military forces. On the other hand, in Yemen, with the intensification of the struggle between the Iran-backed Houthi and the legitimate government backed by Saudi Arabia, Moscow has succeeded in mediating between the two sides. The Russian ambassador to Yemen played an important role in communicating with the Houthis and former President Ali Abdullah Saleh and in providing military support. So Russia will have part of the pie in the final settlement.

US President Donald Trump’s historic visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recently took place, during which US officials held three high-level summits on the region’s future and the US economy. The two countries have signed economic and military agreements worth more than $ 450 billion. These include anti-aircraft missiles and THAAD anti-missile systems, as well as contracts for the creation of defense construction companies. Politically, the United States has succeeded in creating an important military alliance to stop the Iranian expansion in the region. The first steps, in my opinion, will be taken in Syria in the coming days. A joint intelligence center has also been set up to include more than 55 Arab countries and the United States to counter extremism and terrorism and exchange information about them.

In this complex Middle East scene, international tensions between the two superpowers are steadily rising. The battle for a new American role in the Middle East has begun. The Cold War is back, even if both sides are trying to show diplomacy with each other. Will Syria be the trigger for a wider confrontation?