The
conflict in Syria has provided Russian President Vladimir Putin with
a golden opportunity to strengthen his own and Russia's position
abroad. In recent months, Mr Putin's image in the West has been
seriously tarnished by
Russia's new anti-gay laws and his handling of the Pussy Riot case.
Furthermore, backing the Assad regime in the Syrian conflict is a
risky strategy
that could make things even worse for Mr Putin. Nonetheless, so far
the outcome of this conflict has proved to be quite the opposite.
Staying on the offensive and anticipating his opponents'
reactions, Mr Putin has succeeded in dominating the debate about
Syria, and his latest moves are likely to improve Russia's image
abroad. In the Middle East, Moscow has become an important and
powerful player, whereas Washington runs the risk of being seen as
passive and ambivalent. In the West, Mr Putin's anti-war message and
defence of international law may help
shift
the focus away from his own criticized domestic policies to the
alleged imperialism and warmongering of the United States. It is, of
course, too early to tell how the conflict in Syria will play out,
but so far Mr Putin has gained the upper hand and Russia is rivalling
the US for influence on the world stage.
Se även tidigare inlägg:
FNS: Syrien-avtalet och Rysslands trovärdighet 20130915
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