Strategic Council Online: An Asian affairs expert has described a security conference between heads of Turkish and Syrian intelligence agencies in Russia after long years an important and eye-catching development. “Considering its field victories Syria seems to have sent a strong message to the Turkish authorities about complete withdrawal from Syrian lands and the decision to fight terrorism and return all occupied Syrian lands.
Strategic Council Online: A university professor cited Moscow’s announcement that Khalifa Haftar has left Moscow without signing a ceasefire agreement with the Libyan National Unity Government, saying: “Until the Arab countries are convinced that Khalifa Haftar will have the upper hand in the agreements to be reached, they will not be willing to allow him to agree to a ceasefire.”
Strategic Council Online: An international relations professor said that the Iranian military operation against the US military base in Baghdad was merely a blow to American grandeur and that Iran’s response will be given in due time and within the geography of the Resistance. The Americans should estimate their response within the new calculations not the previous evaluations that Iran exercised restraint.
Strategic Council Online: The coordinated participation of China, Russia and Iran in a joint naval drill illustrates a common understanding among the high-ranking officials of the three countries of the potential threats and can be seen as a step towards shaping a multipolar world order in the future as well as new security strategies in the region.
Hamideh Safamanesh – International Relations Researcher
Strategic Council Online: Given the US maximum pressure policy, the continuation of Iran’s policy of “neither talks nor war” is one of the instances that reflect a realistic approach in Tehran’s foreign policy.
Dr. Abdollah Moradi – University Professor and Defense and Security Analyst
Strategic Council Online: An expert on international security affairs pointing to a joint naval exercise between Iran, Russia, and China in the north of the Indian Ocean and the Oman Sea said: This combination could upset the power equation in the region and, before anything, weaken the American unilateralist axis and strengthen the multilateral camp in the region.
Strategic Council Online: The most important reason for Washington’s lifting of Cyprus arms embargo is the serious threat against Israeli and Egyptian interests in the region prompted by an agreement reached between Turkey and Libya over security-military and border issues in recent weeks and demarcating marine boundaries. The US Senate has voted to lift the arms embargo on Cyprus in a move that will displease Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ghadir Golkarian – Professor at Near East University in Cyprus
Strategic Council Online: The most sensible scenario is for the Russians not to enter the field of heavy arms competition with Washington, on the one hand because of their historical experience and on the other because of the large gap between the US military budget and the Russian military budget.
Shoaib Bahman – Expert on Russian affairs
Strategic Council Online: An international affairs expert stressed: Although the final statement of the NATO summit attempted to highlight Russian “threat” and revive some type of Cold War atmosphere with Russia and to some extent China and portray a show of solidarity around common goals, however the summit and its output could neither persuade international observers nor even the member states themselves.
Strategic Council Online: By announcing a plan to launch a “European Naval Mission” for Security in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, France wants to test what it has been dreaming of as a “European NATO” for years, an institution that has neither been consolidated in thinking nor it is applicable in practice.
Hamideh Safamanesh – International Relations Researcher
Strategic Council Online: By concluding military deals with Egypt and India, Russia seeks to challenge US arms sales and development on one hand, and attract traditional US allies by expanding its military influence, on the other hand.
Shoaib Bahman – Expert on Russian Affairs
Strategic Council Online: An expert on regional issues said the agreement between Russia and Turkey on northern Syria was in the interest of all parties, adding: “If Russia can persuade armed Kurdish fighters to keep away from Turkish borders, which is very difficult to do, the reducing of the tension will continue.”
Strategic Council Online: The declared goal of the US and its allies’ maritime exercises in the Persian Gulf is to limit Iran’s maneuvering power and controlling the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf, and Oman Sea, and it looks like the US will continue to maintain its naval fleet in the Persian Gulf for the next three decades.
Strategic Council Online: White House leaders have shown that US support for Saudi Arabia will continue as long as Saudi petrodollars flow into the pockets of US arms dealers.
Hamideh Safamanesh – International Relations Researcher
Strategic Council Online: Any insecurity on the international waterways will not only disrupt the security and infrastructure of the regional countries, but will also increase the insecurity of international politics and economics due to the link between world economy and politics and the region.
Nozar Shafiei – Expert on Foreign Policy Issues
Strategic Council Online: A Turkish affairs expert says Trump has given the green light to Turkey in invading Syria but President Erdogan must be aware that this is a trap by the US to undermine the Turkish economy, military and government in the interests of the Zionist regime.
Strategic Council Online: An international affairs analyst said the US-North Korea talks are not very clear, noting that although the issue of North Korean disarmament is important to Americans, it is not Washington’s only goal. The Americans are playing with North Korea in the region and do not want this issue to be solved easily.
Strategic Council Online: An expert on Turkish affairs said that criticisms by American statesmen of Turkey’s invasion of Syria are just verbal reactions, adding that in action there was in fact a relative harmony between US interests and Turkish concerns in that regard. By giving the green light to Turkey the United States has proven that it is still pursuing a policy of supporting terrorists, he said.
Strategic Council Online: Russia seeks to thwart US efforts to build coalitions in the region. Moscow sees the US plan as very dangerous that could both increase military presence in the region and enhance the likelihood of conflicts. So the Kremlin is trying to prevent the US-led coalition from escalating tensions in the region.
Mahmoud Shouri – Russia Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: The United States has announced its withdrawal from Syrian soil at a time that it gives the green light to Turkey to violate the national sovereignty of Syria and occupy 450 square kilometers at a depth of 30 kilometers.
Azam Gol Mohammadi – International Law Researcher
