The U.S and Russia relations are going to be a difficult times. When trump came to power whole world was broadcasting that Donald Trump is near to Putin. But now situation has changed completely. In Syria Recent chemical attack on civilians change the direction of Trump’s mind. During the election US intelligence agencies have accused Moscow of using computer hacking to intervene in the US presidential election to help Trump win finally he won the election. Trump chose the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who is former oil executive who was awarded Russia’s Order of Friendship by Putin indirectly he is close to Russia. Now he is Secretary of State the criteria changed towards world. Now he has to directly engage with Russia about the matter of Bashar al-Assad. Russians also very well known to him that he is unexperienced fellow in foreign policy. But recent chemical attack really upset the Trump’s mind and he ordered to attack on Syria.
U.S President Donald Trump said he ordered the Tomahawk missile strike on the Shayrat base because the United States believed aircraft that carried out Tuesday's chemical attack were launched from there. Some analyst saying that this act of Trump tries to convinced the people of America that we don’t have any sympathy towards Russia.
Trump is not a politician he is a businessman tough businessman to win the business deals. Now he sent his Secretary of State Tillerson to doing a deal with Russia but he did not get anything. Because this is diplomacy not a business deals. This is not a first chance in Syria used chemical weapons in 2013, 2014 and 2015 it is already used like mustard gas, sarin gas, Chlorine gas etc. But problem is that if these chemical weapons in hands of ISIS they used outside of Syria. Last year, an UN-appointed investigation panel found chemical weapons had been used by regime forces and opposition fighters in 2014 and 2015. However, no actionable steps were taken. Chlorine gas in warfare is outlawed by international treaties. High-level exposure can cause suffocation, with children and seniors being particularly vulnerable. Since civil war in Syria erupted in March 2011, more than 250,000 people have been killed, according to the UN. The Syrian Centre for Policy Research puts the death toll at more than 470,000.
United States believed Assad should step down after the chemical attack on Khan Sheikhoun that killed at least 80 people and injured dozens more on Tuesday. U.S. Secretary of state Rex Tillerson visited Moscow to discuss the ongoing situation in Syria especially recent chemical attack on the civilians. But Moscow Cleary stated that we are with Assad. Assad also said that “this chemical attack is U.S plot and conspiracy against me”. Five hours long discussion between Rex Tillerson and Moscow but little ease tension. This is the degradation of the relations both nations are foremost nuclear powers this type of immaturity of both powers not good for the entire world. Both nations are big and powerful has to work together not fight with each other. Those who are responsible for these chemical attacks should punish. Washington says that Syrian government, under pressure from opposition forces around the country and lacking enough troops to respond, used the lethal nerve agent sarin to target rebels who were threatening government-held territory.
But other side Russians argues that who decides Washington policy. Because last year former U.S. president Obama and Putin reached an agreement joint military cooperation on Syria but U.S. defence department sabotage the policy bombing Syrian troop’s camps. Then Putin said publicly who is making Washington policy. Professor Stephen Cohen said “Present relation between U.S. and Russia is very complex after Cuban missile crisis”. One more argument in the favour of Assad Russians saying that Why Assad and his regime are accusing using chemical weapons does not make any sense the logic behind that he is winning the war on ground and he is benefitting ongoing political dialogue . So why he and his regime use the chemical weapons it does not make sense. But it’s not true if Islamic State doing this they use this chemical gas beyond Syria too.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Russian media that “one could say that the level of trust on a working level, especially on the military level has not improved but has rather deteriorated”. Russians demands that United Nations should conduct independent probe. But independent probe cannot be possible whenever Assad in Power. Again Russia veto at the United Nations this is six resolutions on Syria since the civil war began six years ago.
Actually, everybody wants unified Syria but it should be governed by people. Assad has to be step down and organize fair elections. U.S has to make a clear strategy about Syria that’s why Russia warns that don’t make Syria as an Iraq or Libya. I would say Russians has to think “humanity is bigger than any ally”.
Views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of FORE INDIA