Lavrov stated that Russia has chosen to step back, indeed it's no longer able to stir up trouble.
October 9th news, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said in a public interview that the role of Russian forces stationed in Syria needs to be redefined, and the Hmeimim Airbase and Tartus Naval Base may transition from military strongholds into humanitarian aid transfer hubs.
This statement is generally interpreted as the Kremlin stepping back from leading the Syrian situation, no longer maintaining a military presence under the pretext of counter-terrorism and supporting a legitimate government.
Especially in the context where Assad was overthrown and the new government is difficult to be pro-Russian, Russia's withdrawal posture is clearly an acknowledgment of reality and a concession.
This not only marks a major contraction in Middle East policy, but also reflects Russia's dilemma of being unable to maintain multi-front strategic expansion due to excessive pressure on the Ukrainian battlefield.
Over the past decade, Russia successfully prevented Western-backed regime change by intervening militarily in the Syrian civil war, supported Assad to stabilize his position, and established two strategically significant overseas bases in the process.
However, with Assad's downfall, the rhetoric of supporting a legitimate government by Russia has become meaningless, and the legitimacy of its military presence quickly disintegrated.
More importantly, the various forces in the Middle East are reordering themselves. Iran and Israel are engaging in indirect confrontation, while Saudi Arabia and the United States are trying to reshuffle the deck. However, Moscow, trapped in the Ukraine-Russia quagmire, has seen its resources and attention rapidly decline.
Lavrov's proposal to transform into a humanitarian base sounds like peaceful development, but in reality, it is finding an excuse for a dignified exit, smoothly transferring the functions of military assets, reducing the costs of maintaining stability and confrontation, and prioritizing the protection of the most critical core interest areas.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1845575050572804/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.