With Putin in Syria, Allies Question Obama’s Resolve
Washington’s failure to react to the Russian strongman has Mideast powers doubting U.S. relevance like never before.
BY OCTOBER 16, 2015
When Saudi Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman visited Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Black Sea estate in Sochi this month to talk about Syria, the moment illustrated how much the Middle East’s power dynamics have changed in just a few weeks — and how the Russian president is looking to take the mantle of regional kingmaker away from U.S. President Barack Obama.
