Vladimir Putin’s red-carpet welcome for Syria’s interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa last week was more than just a diplomatic gesture – it was a stark demonstration of Russia’s new pragmatism in the Middle East. For over a decade, Moscow had been the principal backer of Bashar al-Assad’s brutal regime, providing the Syrian strongman with weapons, money, and political cover at the United Nations. Yet today, the Kremlin has opened its doors to the very man who led the campaign to overthrow Assad. The optics of this moment – Al-Sharaa shaking hands with Putin while Assad reportedly hides somewhere in Moscow – encapsulate a dramatic shift in Russia’s foreign policy: from power projection to damage control.

The meeting came just days after the Kremlin postponed its much-anticipated Russia-Arab Summit when only two of the 22 invited Arab leaders confirmed attendance. Moscow had intended the summit to showcase Russia’s enduring influence across the Arab world. Instead, the empty seats exposed how far its regional standing has eroded since the height of its military interventions in Syria and Libya. For Putin, welcoming Al-Sharaa was not merely about Syria – it was an attempt to rebrand Russia as a flexible, pragmatic player still capable of adapting to the region’s shifting dynamics.

In their meeting, Al-Sharaa was forthright. His administration, he said, sought to “restore and redefine” ties with Russia based on “mutual respect and sovereignty.” It was a clear message that Damascus would no longer tolerate Moscow’s heavy-handed influence. For Russia, which had long treated Syria as a strategic satellite, this was a humbling moment. But Putin chose to accommodate rather than confront. Maintaining a relationship with the new Syrian government, even on diminished terms, was preferable to losing its foothold entirely.

This acceptance marks a shift from ideology to necessity – a pure expression of realpolitik. The Kremlin’s priority is no longer about defending old allies or imposing influence by force, but ensuring continued access and relevance wherever possible. Moscow’s decision to maintain ties with Al-Sharaa’s government, even after the fall of Assad, shows that Russia’s foreign policy has evolved into a calculus of survival and selective engagement.

In recent months,........

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