There is a lack of understanding in what happened in Syria. Both Russia and Iran offered Syria greater economic and military aid but this required long term integration commitments from Syria. Assad refused. Assad was in negotiations with Egypt, Jordan, and the Saudis to revive a strong Arab League. Egypt was promising a detente with the US and economic aid. Egypt was lying for the US and Israel IMO. Assad was pursuing that until he ran out of money and couldn't pay his military anymore. Putin told Assad to go to Erdogan and make a deal. Assad refused and the rest is history. If you go back and parse through everybody's statements Erdogan said he didn't want this. He wanted to make an agreement with Assad. People blew off this comment but I'm quite certain it is true. Not because he didn't want more influence in Syria but he knew Israel would step in and make a mess of things and take over Syria's airspace. Erdogan sent his head chopper to Russia because they want Russia's help in getting control of Syria's airspace again. It all looks ridiculous but Assad's hands were tied to some degree. It is a Sunni Arab majority country and they all remember his father's days as the good old days when they had a strong Arab league. Assad was too mad at Erdogan to make a deal. This would have required him to share power in Syria. The Turks have their own agenda too plus they are not Arabs. Assad was really in a tough spot. Putin understood this which is why they offered him asylum even though he turned down Russia and Iran's offer. Russia made a similar offer to Iran years ago that Iran turned down prefering to remain independent and picking and choosing what deals to make. It sounds like they are rethinking this and are going to forge some type of greater integrated ties. This coming from the 12 day war. My great hope is that Iran and Russia open up a giant joint naval base on the Gulf of Oman. That and massive trade through the Caspian sea would cause NATO and Pentagon heads to explode.
Hopefully, this commitment will be more meaningful than the one with Syria.
There is a lack of understanding in what happened in Syria. Both Russia and Iran offered Syria greater economic and military aid but this required long term integration commitments from Syria. Assad refused. Assad was in negotiations with Egypt, Jordan, and the Saudis to revive a strong Arab League. Egypt was promising a detente with the US and economic aid. Egypt was lying for the US and Israel IMO. Assad was pursuing that until he ran out of money and couldn't pay his military anymore. Putin told Assad to go to Erdogan and make a deal. Assad refused and the rest is history. If you go back and parse through everybody's statements Erdogan said he didn't want this. He wanted to make an agreement with Assad. People blew off this comment but I'm quite certain it is true. Not because he didn't want more influence in Syria but he knew Israel would step in and make a mess of things and take over Syria's airspace. Erdogan sent his head chopper to Russia because they want Russia's help in getting control of Syria's airspace again. It all looks ridiculous but Assad's hands were tied to some degree. It is a Sunni Arab majority country and they all remember his father's days as the good old days when they had a strong Arab league. Assad was too mad at Erdogan to make a deal. This would have required him to share power in Syria. The Turks have their own agenda too plus they are not Arabs. Assad was really in a tough spot. Putin understood this which is why they offered him asylum even though he turned down Russia and Iran's offer. Russia made a similar offer to Iran years ago that Iran turned down prefering to remain independent and picking and choosing what deals to make. It sounds like they are rethinking this and are going to forge some type of greater integrated ties. This coming from the 12 day war. My great hope is that Iran and Russia open up a giant joint naval base on the Gulf of Oman. That and massive trade through the Caspian sea would cause NATO and Pentagon heads to explode.
I have heard that version before, but to me, it doesn't absolve Putin of treachery.