Secretary Mattis: Russia cannot replace the US in the Middle East
(Baonghean.vn) - On October 27, US Secretary of Defense James Mattis affirmed that Russia cannot replace the US's role in the Middle East region, after Moscow's military intervention in Syria.
| US Secretary of Defense James Mattis. Photo: AP |
Speaking at the annual Manama Dialogue Security Conference held in the capital Manama (Bahrain), Mr. Mattis stated: "Russia's presence in the region cannot replace America's long-term, sustainable and transparent commitment to the Middle East."
According to Mr. Mattis, “Russia’s opportunism and its willingness to ignore President Assad’s criminal activities against his own people are evidence of its lack of sincere commitment to essential moral principles.”
The Pentagon chief stressed that Iran's support for the Syrian government "along with Russia's repeated vetoes of UN Security Council resolutions, are the main reasons why Mr. Assad remains in power."
The US Secretary of Defense's statement was made in the context that today, October 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend a summit in Istanbul with leaders from France, Germany and Türkiye, to seek a long-term political solution to the 7-year war in Syria.
Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on October 26 that the main goal of this conference will be to "clarify the steps to be taken towards the goal of achieving a political solution and outline a roadmap for the Syrian issue."
