Russian President Vladimir Putin has hosted Syria’s Bashar Assad for a gathering amid rising pressure within the Middle East.
Putin instructed Assad he was involved concerning the state of affairs within the area however neither nation offered additional particulars on their talks.
Russia has waged a army marketing campaign in Syria since September 2015, teaming up with Iran to permit Assad’s authorities in opposition to opposition teams.
While Russia now concentrates the majority of its army sources in Ukraine, it has maintained a army foothold in Syria and retains troops at its bases there.
“I am very interested in your opinion on how the situation in the region as a whole is developing,” Putin stated to Assad. “Unfortunately, there is a tendency toward escalation, we can see that. This also applies directly to Syria.”
The Kremlin stated Putin and Assad’s assembly occurred Wednesday.
Putin and Assad final met in March 2023 within the Kremlin on the anniversary of Syria’s 12-year uprising-turned-civil struggle. At that assembly, Putin emphasised the Russian army’s position in stabilizing the nation.
“Considering all the events that are taking place in the world as a whole and in the Eurasian region today, our meeting today seems very important,” Assad instructed Putin through a Russian translator.
The Kremlin didn’t present particulars on Putin and Assad’s talks however one potential level of dialogue was reportedly round Syria and Türkiye relations.
Russia is likely one of the strongest backers of Assad but in addition has shut ties with Türkiye and has been pushing for a reset.
Türkiye minimize ties with Syria in 2011 over the brutal crackdown on mass anti-government protests that spiraled into the still-ongoing civil struggle.
Türkiye helps Syrian opposition teams looking for to overthrow Assad and nonetheless maintains forces within the opposition-held northwest.
In December 2022, the Turkish, Syrian and Russian protection ministers held talks in Moscow, the primary ministerial-level assembly between Türkiye and Syria since 2011. Russia additionally brokered conferences between Syrian and Turkish officers final yr.
The Kremlin on Thursday added that the assembly additionally mentioned a “possible” assembly between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Erdoğan and Assad.
Both leaders had just lately signaled seemingly discussions on the re-evaluation of diplomatic ties.
Source: www.dailysabah.com