Russian President Vladimir Putin started talks with Syrian chief Bashar Assad in Moscow on Wednesday because the Kremlin steps up efforts to revive ties between Turkey and Syria.

Putin mentioned he deliberate to debate “all important aspects of cooperation” with Assad, who thanked the Russian chief for backing Syrian calls for for the pullout of all international forces and expressed assist for his invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian capital on the identical day was additionally because of host four-way talks involving Turkey, Syria and Iran. The diplomatic exercise comes days after high U.S. navy officers visited American troops and their Kurdish allies in northeastern Syria, the place Washington has stored a presence for nearly eight years.

The diplomatic push, opposed by the U.S., is a part of broader efforts by Moscow and Beijing to problem Washington within the Middle East. It comes after China brokered a diplomatic detente between Iran and U.S. ally Saudi Arabia, demonstrating its new-found weight within the area. The U.S. has about 900 troops in Syria, a presence that Moscow and Damascus have lengthy sought to finish.

“The U.S. reputation in the region would be undermined even more if the Americans try to impede regional efforts to stabilize Syria and push the Kurdish agenda,” mentioned Nikolay Surkov, a Middle East analyst on the Moscow-based Institute of World Economy and International Relations. “Other regional states are likely to follow the example of Turkey.”

Preparing floor

The inclusion of Iran within the talks on the degree of deputy international minister got here after Turkey indicated it didn’t oppose Tehran’s participation. The two-day assembly Wednesday and Thursday is meant to organize the bottom for consultations between the 4 nations’ high diplomats, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has mentioned.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who faces a reelection battle in May elections, has mentioned he’s keen to take a seat down with Assad to advertise peace within the area.

A serious sticking level to this point stays the presence of Turkish troops in northern Syria and Ankara’s assist for Syrian armed teams.

The rapprochement between Syria and Turkey, which has supported rebels combating Assad in a struggle that began in 2011, has been pushed for by Damascus’s main navy backer Russia and the United Arab Emirates. Syria stays beneath strict Western sanctions and is suspended from the Arab League, making it depending on Iran, which additionally despatched fighters to again Assad within the battle.

Iran’s high nationwide safety adviser, Ali Shamkhani, will go to the UAE on Thursday, every week after the China-mediated cope with Saudi Arabia to revive ties.