Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing a perfect storm of military defeats and diplomatic setbacks, with his overseas empire crumbling all at once. The collapse of Syria’s government has forced Russian forces to vacate several military bases, including Aleppo, where rebels caught them off guard.
The Syrian crisis has significant implications for Russia’s influence in the Middle East, the Sahel region of Africa, and Sudan. Without key military facilities like Khmeimim airbase and Tartus naval base, Russian operations in these regions will likely grind to a halt.
Russian tactics, which involve targeting civilians in “liberated” population centers, have had minimal effect on foreign rebels leading the charge against them. The Turkish-backed coalition of Islamist militant groups Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has direct ties to al-Qaeda and remains a significant threat.
The situation is also unfolding in Georgia, where protests are growing over an unpopular investment agreement with Moscow. Russian colonialism is wearing thin in the Caucasus region, and the pro-Russian government may collapse if the protests continue.
Meanwhile, Russia is facing another public humiliation when Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev publicly snubbed Putin’s comments at a security summit. This is the second country to do so, following Armenia’s decision to withdraw from the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
In Ukraine, losses continue to mount, with over 45,720 casualties reported in November alone. Despite an economy in turmoil, Putin remains steadfast in his determination to win the war at any cost. However, a complete withdrawal of Russian troops and restoration of Ukraine’s borders is necessary to end the conflict on the best terms possible.
The US must leverage all instruments of national power to achieve this goal, including precision deep strike weapons and allowing Ukraine to interdict Russian and North Korean troops at Russia’s seaports and airfields. By taking a strong stance against Putin, the US can help Ukraine wedge out the last piece of its territory and bring an end to the conflict.
Source: https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/5020480-russian-president-putin-syria