Did Trump’s decision on Golan undercut Putin mediation on Syria?
Russian President Vladimir Putin thought he had a deal in Helsinki; Turkey rethinks Syria ties over Kurds.
Putin thought he had a deal in Helsinki
“With the United States recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights,” writes Maxim Suchkov, “the ‘security buffer’ between Israeli and Syrian/Iranian forces that Moscow sought to establish may be put into question, raising risks for a direct collision of enemy forces.”
“During the Helsinki summit that brought together [US President Donald] Trump and [Russian President Vladmir] Putin in July 2018,” adds Suchkov, “the Golan Heights was arguably the main item Putin could offer Trump to discuss in terms of US-Russia cooperation on Syria.”
According to Suchkov, “Russia has deployed its military police along the Bravo line that later enabled UN observers to return to their own mission to monitor the cease-fire and separation of the forces.”
