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This is CBSI in the world. I'm John Batsu with Annabar Chapskaya. Putin's war in Syria,

Russian foreign policy and the price of America's absence or new book. It is incredibly deep

and careful reporting. I have done what I can in this conversation to touch on revelations

that are important to understand where we are now, given that the Kremlin has no intention

of leaving Syria. The Kremlin has no intention of leaving them at least. This is a battleground

with the Western powers, especially with the United States. So, Anna comes to the conclusion

so far in 2021-2022-2023 going forward. The first observation is that the Trump administration

was indifferent or uncaring because the president was about Syria. Did Putin take advantage

of that, Anna? Or was that a surprise that the US turned to other concerns during Mr.

Trump's time?

Well, so there was a difference. There was a slight difference between how Trump himself

looked at Syria and he called it, I think, the land of blood and sand. And how Syria administration

had approached Syria. So there was a bit of tension there. Certainly, Putin took advantage

of is, again, perceiving that from a big picture perspective, the United States remains at

the very least ambivalent and is overall looking to shift its priorities when it comes to

the Middle East. Under the Trump administration, Assad still remained economically isolated.

...