New reports out of Vienna suggest growing European annoyance at the efforts by the US and Russia to end the Syrian Civil War, which they describe as a total stalemate and one which just sees the US constantly underestimating Russia’s desire to not endorse formal regime change.
Diplomats say that going into the US talks with Russia, Secretary of State John Kerry assured them that Russia would “relatively quickly” cave to US demands. The Europeans say they have ideas on compromise, but that neither they nor the Syrians themselves are involved at the moment.
Rather, the US and Russia appear to have take the reins of this conflict’s backdoor negotiations, and unable to make any agreement with one another, just keep spinning their wheels, as European diplomats urge for a return to multilateral talks.
Having that happen seems unlikely, at least in the near-term, as the US has long been keen to cut the Europeans out of the process, and having done so probably isn’t going to admit to failure in their bilateral efforts, let alone concede to Europe’s return to the process. As with the Syrians themselves, US and Russian officials seem keen to relegate Europe to spectatorship.
“as the US has long been keen to cut the Europeans out of the process,”
It’s the Europeans’ own fault as they slavishly follow Washington’s line. For example, with the recent attempt by Russia to have a number of jihadist groups associated with Al Qaeda, the British and French could have abstained instead of giving the United States and Ukraine some cover for their support of terrorists, Perhaps the British or French should provide an armoured infantry division a piece to deal with ISIS – I’m sure the Syrians and Russians would be glad of their help.
Europeans need a deal. The US wants the war to go on endlessly, since that serves the purposes of Saudi Wahhabi dreams and Israeli aggrandizement alike, and puts off the issues of the Kurds vs Turkey and Iraq.
If the Europeans want to peace deal, they’ll have to do that themselves. Russia is willing, so long as deal does not equate to surrender. They’ve set terms they’d agree to, that are good enough for Europe and far better for Syrians that being this endless proxy of foreign designs.
Let’s knock off the chase. USA/EU want Assad, pronto out of Government. Oil and gas pipe lines transferring through Syria is what they want. Goal has always been to put Russia out of gas business.
Russia knows what the consequences would be.
The current stalemate is actually a big win for the MIC. Unless the arms and infiltration can be stopped, it will go on forever.
If the Europeans really want to stop the Syrian War and the refugee flow, they’re going to have to threaten the US big time, as in threat the breakup of NATO and other things the US doesn’t want to see happen. They actually have the power to force the US to be reasonable, but so far not the will.