Eric and Eliot discuss the rapidly unfolding events in Syria and examine the causes and consequences of the collapse of Bashar al Assad's regime in Syria. They discuss the big winners (Turkey, Israel, the Syrian people and to a lesser extent the U.S) and the big losers (notably Russia and especially Iran). They discuss the timing of the Hayat Tahrir al Sham offensive, how to interpret the claims of HTS leader abu Mohammed al Jolani that the group has moderated, the prospects for Russia maintaining its Khmeimim Air Base and its naval base at Tartus, as well as the future ...

After overseeing 13 years of the devastation that has come to define Syria’s civil war, the country’s former president, Bashar al-Assad, has fled Damascus for Moscow[1].“Following his talks with a number of participants in the armed conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic, Bashar al-Assad decided to step down as the Syrian President and leave the country, instructing the government to transfer power peacefully,” the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday.The communication continued, clarifying that, while Russia was playing no part in the negotiations, it remained “in contact with all factions of the Syrian opposition”.Russia’s official use of the ...

Nato secretary general Mark Rutte (AP photo) BRUSSLES: Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte warned on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to “wipe Ukraine off the map” and could come after other parts of Europe next, as he urged Europeans to press their governments to ramp up defense spending.“It is time to shift to a wartime mindset,” Rutte told security experts and analysts at the Carnegie Europe think-tank in Brussels. He said people should gird themselves for the prospect that Russia might try to use “swarms of drones” in Europe as it has to deadly effect in Ukraine.Putin “is ...

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to “wipe Ukraine off the map” and could come after other parts of Europe next, as he urged Europeans to press their governments to ramp up defense spending.“It is time to shift to a wartime mindset,” Rutte told security experts and analysts at the Carnegie Europe think-tank in Brussels. He said people should gird themselves for the prospect that Russia might try to use “swarms of drones” in Europe as it has to deadly effect in Ukraine.Putin “is trying to crush our freedom ...

President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke over the phone on Friday, Moscow and Berlin announced, coming at a moment of great uncertainty about the West’s continued support of Ukraine.Scholz said Sunday he was interested in talking with the Kremlin leader about possible solutions to end the war in Ukraine, which is nearing the third-year mark. The pair last spoke in December 2022, when the German chancellor urged Putin to withdraw his troops from Ukraine.[1]“The Chancellor urged Russia to be prepared to negotiate with Ukraine with the aim of achieving a just and lasting peace,” a German government spokesperson said[2] ...

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Aon risk management firm launched a 110-million-euro ($116 million) guarantee program to help insurers cover some war-related risks in Ukraine, the EBRD announced on Dec. 12.Ukraine[1]'s insurance companies have struggled to offer war insurance[2] services as international reinsurers have largely withdrawn from the market after the outbreak of Russia's full-scale war[3] in 2022.The EBRD's new Ukraine Recovery and Reconstruction Guarantee Facility will help reinsurance companies cover risks connected to land-based transport[4], focusing on small and medium businesses[5].It currently does not extend to fixed assets or maritime transport, though the bank ...

President Donald Trump said Friday that he doesn't want war with Iran, but if it comes there will be "obliteration like you've never seen before.""But I'm not looking to do that," the president added in an exclusive interview with NBC's Chuck Todd for "Meet the Press."Trump said there were no pre-conditions for U.S. talks with Tehran."You can't have nuclear weapons," Trump said. "And if you want to talk about it, good. Otherwise, you can live in a shattered economy for a long time to come."Trump also discussed his decision-making process that led him to halt strikes on Iran on Thursday ...

Russia is manoeuvring to mitigate the impacts of economic sanctions by easing its payment restrictions on fossil fuel exports, a move ordered by President Vladimir Putin[1]. This action seeks to alleviate financial pressures exerted by sanctions targeting Gazprombank—the previously mandated channel for Ruble payments following the Ukraine invasion[2]—which helped Russia skirt limitations tied to dollar and euro transactions. The updated policy will permit foreign importers to settle their dues through other financial institutions or in any manner agreed with Russian suppliers - with Putin reportedly growing more likely to use nuclear weapons[3]. Despite international efforts to scale back reliance, Europe ...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia could launch its lethal new intermediate-range ballistic missile[1] against Ukraine again soon, the Pentagon said Wednesday, as both sides wrestle for a battlefield advantage that will give them leverage in any negotiations to end the nearly 3-year war. Sabrina Singh, Pentagon spokeswoman, told reporters in a briefing that an attack could be carried out “in the coming days.” She added that the U.S. does not consider this missile — called the Oreshnik — a game changer on the battlefield, but that the Russians are “trying to use every weapon that they have in their arsenal to ...

WARSAW, Poland -- France’s President Emmanuel Macron and Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Ukraine must have a pivotal role in any potential negotiations over Russia’s war[1] in the country, following a meeting Thursday in Warsaw.Macron also insisted Europeans must be involved in security talks in “very close” coordination with the United States to ensure Europe’s interests are taken into account.The meeting comes after Macron held key talks with President-elect Donald Trump[2] and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday in Paris. It also comes as Poland will assume the European Union presidency just weeks before Trump takes office. “We talked ...