Russian military personnel attend a memorial service for the late Iranian General Qassem Soleimani at the Iranian embassy in Damascus on January 5, 2020 [Reuters/Yamam Al Shaar]
Anton Mardasov, Asia Times: Soleimani's killing strengthens Putin's hand in Syria and Iraq
In the latest US-Iran escalation, Russia sees new opportunities to expand its influence in the Middle East.
On January 7, Russian President Vladimir Putin travelled to Syria for the second time in three years. During his previous trip to Syria in December 2017, Putin landed at Russia's Hmeimim airbase for security reasons.
This time he took the ostensibly riskier step of touching down at Damascus International Airport, which had previously been the target of attacks, including by Israel trying to hit pro-Iran militias.
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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 17, 2020
Blame Iran for Iran's Problems -- Brandon Weichert, RCW
‘Days of God’: A look at Iran’s mounting crises -- Joseph Krauss, AP
Syrian, Turkish intel chiefs thaw ties in Moscow -- Sami Moubayed & Alison Tahmizian Meuse, Asia Times
Exclusive: Pakistani PM Imran Khan says escalation of Iran conflict would be 'disastrous' -- Shamil Shams, ABC News Online
What Americans Don't Get About China's Power -- David Leonhardt, New York Times
Safe and sound? China launches propaganda blitz to discredit Uyghur #StillNoInfo campaign -- Erin Handley, ABC News Online
Taiwan Vote Confuses, Embarrasses China -- Rod Wye, Nikkei Asian Review
The battle to succeed Jeremy Corbyn (and more besides) -- Eleni Courea, Politico
Putin's Power Puzzle: Russia's President Loses a Cabinet and Gains an Exit Strategy -- Nikolas K. Gvosdev, National Interest
Putinism and Putin's retirement plan -- Leonid Ragozin, Al Jazeera
5 reasons why US-Europe tensions will grow in the 2020s — and how to stop it -- David Whineray, The Hill
Iran Crisis Triggers Alarm On Venezuela -- Benny Avni, The SUN
Anti-Trump protests have shrunk. What’s it mean for 2020? -- Sara Burnett, AP
How Turbulent Will Trump’s Trial Become? -- Hunter DeRensis, National Interest
