Syrian dictator Bashar Assad used to be an international outcast, Syria’s equivalent of Kim Jong Un. The Syrian dictator had few partners and even fewer friends. Shut out from the West, isolated from the international banking system, and ostracized from much of the Arab world, Assad was at the mercy of Iran, Russia, Lebanese Hezbollah, and what was left of the Syrian army to squash the armed opposition against his regime.
Why are Assad’s former enemies suddenly playing nice? The change of tune has nothing to do with sentimentality or even sympathy for the Syrian people. The Gulf Arab states, which never had an especially warm relationship with the Assad family, still look at the lanky 57-year-old eye doctor and see a ruthless tyrant entirely beholden to the Iranians and the Russians. The Saudis aren’t naive.
Arab governments may despise Assad personally and prefer him to be dead or in prison for crimes against humanity. But you don’t need to be somebody’s friend in order to work with him. Jordan and Saudi Arabia need Syria’s cooperation to combat the illicit multibillion-dollar Captagon drug trade, ironically facilitated by Assad’s younger brother, Maher. The United Arab Emirates, always searching for business opportunities, would like to have a piece of the Syrian market.
DanDePetris He won his war that’s why he’s now getting the Arab leaders returning for diplomatic ties.
DanDePetris Everyone seems to be moving on without the USA
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