“As part of Russia’s deals with Turkey, the Russians agreed to let Turkey take over Afrin in northwest Syria in January 2018. The goal for Russia was to weaken the US relationship with the Kurdish YPG. But that didn’t work. Russia bided its time. Its goal was to evict the Americans. Under Trump, the US was seeking out a more “America First” strategy. So Russia waited reasoning that so long as America was going to isolate itself, there was no reason to interrupt your enemy while he was making a mistake. Russia waited and built up its influence, working more closely with Egypt on Libyan matters, and also opened discussions with Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Israel. Each step of the way, Russia saw a way to pry away a US ally.”
Read more by Seth J. Frantzman: https://www.jpost.com/International
