The Russian presence in Syria is needed by Russian President Vladimir Putin not to fight terrorists, but as a trump card in communicating with the West. This opinion was expressed on the TV channel "112 Ukraine" by the former adviser of the Russian leader Andrei Illarionov, reports "Gordon". According to him, Russia wants to be the main thing in the Middle East. "As a result of several calculations. First, as a trump card in dealing with the West, with the same United States. Secondly, in this way Russia sorts out the former Soviet legacy, the old client. And thirdly, as a real force to be reckoned with. And in the Middle East this is really so: whose boots on earth, he is an active participant in the decision of the fate of this or that region or country, "said Illarionov. He also noted that at first Syria also needed the Russian Federation as an argument in the negotiations on Ukraine, but later realized that this option almost does not work. "Well, of course, as an application for the formation of a completely new coalition, which began to loom.

Because it turned out that the real "Big Three", no matter how caricature it may look, is now not Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, as it was seventy-odd years ago, but Russia, Syria, Iran. It was possible to dream about something else, but it turned out that it turned out, "- added Putin's ex-advisor. Earlier, the American expert Jason Smart said that for Russia the presence in Syria is a way to influence the Arab countries and have a huge military base at their disposal, and the North Korean interest is to interfere with the US.

Original article: Illarionov explained why Putin needs Syria.