Don’t Let China Distract Us from Russia

As Washington policymakers pivot their attention toward China, Russian President Vladimir Putin has secured a strategic win in Syria. Not only has Moscow shored up Bashar al-Assad, it has also secured basing rights in the strategic Eastern Mediterranean for at least the next 49 years. Moscow is using this position as a springboard to project power into NATO’s southern flank, boost arms sales, and cultivate a regional perception of a Great Power that stands by its allies. Adversaries and allies alike see Russia as a key interlocutor that can talk to all sides. Simply put, Russia is a reality they have to deal with, whether they like it or not...

Read the full article on the Hill website.