The Russian Hand in Syria

On July 31, at a meeting in Moscow, Bandar bin Sultan, director-general of the Saudi Intelligence Agency, offered Russian President Vladimir Putin a buyout for Russia’s backing of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad: a Saudi promise to purchase $15 billion worth of Russian arms and an assist for Russia to play a larger role in the Middle East.

As Fyodor Lukyanov anticipated in his Al-Monitor article, before the details of Bandar’s offer became known, Putin listened politely and declined the Saudi offer.  Lukyanov writes:

“As recently as six months ago, many analysts considered Russia’s approach stubborn and desperate. The impression is different today. The long-discarded Assad is still in power, the Shiite alliance of Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah are not retreating, while growing signs of disarray are appearing among ranks of regional opposition leaders. Tehran is confident, and the smooth transfer of power confirmed the stability of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s regime. … The hopes that Russia will at some point change its course are groundless. If Russia did not do so when everybody expected Assad to collapse, why would it now?”