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Meeting of minds?

Oct 03,2015 - Last updated at Oct 03,2015

Moscow and Washington seem to finally see eye to eye on Syria; the Russian and American leaders appear to share the common goal of preventing Syria from becoming a failed state even if that entails shifting loyalties and principled position on the conflict and the political landscape of the country.

Daesh, a powerful force in Syria, has become common enemy number one, becoming a game changer for both US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

The two leaders appear prepared to forge an alliance to fight Daesh, as a first priority, leaving the fate of Syrian President Bashar Assad on the backburner, for the moment at least.

It is no longer the future of Assad in Syria that concerns the two leaders, notwithstanding their opposing rhetoric in his regard.

Russia seeks to avoid a repeat of the Libyan scenario — this failed state plunged into endless anarchy and bloodshed — and it seems the US and its allies have yielded to that goal.

Yet Putin has other strategic goals. He wants to play ball with Washington and its allies over Syria in return for a deal on Ukraine.

Putin does not talk about keeping Assad in power as much as he talks about maintaining statehood in Syria undamaged, to avoid a repeat of the Libyan catastrophe.

He obviously also wants the naval base in Latakia, on the Mediterranean.

The Russian leader has the reputation of a man of steel and a brilliant chess player on the international geopolitical chessboard.

Putin believes in fait accompli and that is why he deployed Russian fighters and advanced military hardware in the Syrian theatre so daringly, just as he did in Ukraine, where he got away with it.

Obama appears no match to Putin so far.

 

The endgame of this competition is, however, far from over as Obama may still have some ideas up his sleeve.

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