Russia no substitute for US in Middle East: Mattis
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Russia should not be seen as a viable alternative to the United States in the Middle East, US Secretary of Defense James Mattis implored in Bahrain on Saturday.
"Russia's presence in the region cannot replace the longstanding, enduring, and transparent US commitment to the Middle East," Mattis said.
He was speaking at the 14th International Institute for Strategic Studies Manama Dialogue.
Mattis blasted Russian "opportunism and willingness to overlook Assad's criminal activities against his own people evidences its lack of sincere commitment to essential moral principles."
He sees no solution for Syria that involves bilateral support for the Bashar al-Assad regime in Damascus.
Tehran's support "coupled with Russia's repeated vetoes of UN Security Council Resolutions, is the leading reason Assad remains in power," said Mattis.
The Trump administration announced it had ended a covert operation to overthrow Assad in 2017. Washington's purpose in Syria has focused on a lasting defeat of ISIS, primarily in the Syrian Democratic Forces'-controlled northwest and along the border with Iraq.
"We are deeply aware of the sacrifices many of our partners have made, and continue to make, in dealing with the effects of Assad's violence against his own people," Mattis said.
His remarks come as the leaders of Turkey, Russia, France, and Germany are set to meet in Istanbul on Sunday mainly to discuss Idlib.
"We stand with our partners who favor stability over chaos, and we support unity of effort among our nations' militaries in response to shared threats and challenges," Mattis added.
France and Germany are a part of the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and are active in Syria in various capacities.
The Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) Department of Foreign Relations head Falah Mustafa is also attending the summit in Bahrain.
"Glad to have attended the keynote address at #ManamaDialogue18 & look forward to a comprehensive program at #IISSMD18 where important security & foreign policy issues, regional & global matters will be discussed by & with leaders from the Gulf, the Middle East & around the World," he tweeted while posting photos which included meeting with Mattis and US Special Presidential Envoy Brett McGurk.
Mustafa met with Bahrain's Ambassador to Iraq Salah al-Maliki on the sidelines of the summit.
"Russia's presence in the region cannot replace the longstanding, enduring, and transparent US commitment to the Middle East," Mattis said.
He was speaking at the 14th International Institute for Strategic Studies Manama Dialogue.
Mattis blasted Russian "opportunism and willingness to overlook Assad's criminal activities against his own people evidences its lack of sincere commitment to essential moral principles."
He sees no solution for Syria that involves bilateral support for the Bashar al-Assad regime in Damascus.
Tehran's support "coupled with Russia's repeated vetoes of UN Security Council Resolutions, is the leading reason Assad remains in power," said Mattis.
The Trump administration announced it had ended a covert operation to overthrow Assad in 2017. Washington's purpose in Syria has focused on a lasting defeat of ISIS, primarily in the Syrian Democratic Forces'-controlled northwest and along the border with Iraq.
"We are deeply aware of the sacrifices many of our partners have made, and continue to make, in dealing with the effects of Assad's violence against his own people," Mattis said.
His remarks come as the leaders of Turkey, Russia, France, and Germany are set to meet in Istanbul on Sunday mainly to discuss Idlib.
"We stand with our partners who favor stability over chaos, and we support unity of effort among our nations' militaries in response to shared threats and challenges," Mattis added.
France and Germany are a part of the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and are active in Syria in various capacities.
The Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) Department of Foreign Relations head Falah Mustafa is also attending the summit in Bahrain.
"Glad to have attended the keynote address at #ManamaDialogue18 & look forward to a comprehensive program at #IISSMD18 where important security & foreign policy issues, regional & global matters will be discussed by & with leaders from the Gulf, the Middle East & around the World," he tweeted while posting photos which included meeting with Mattis and US Special Presidential Envoy Brett McGurk.
Glad to have attended the keynote address at #ManamaDialogue18 & look forward to a comprehensive program at #IISSMD18 where important security & foreign policy issues, regional & global matters will be discussed by & with leaders from the Gulf, the Middle East & around the World. pic.twitter.com/QIpK3ykieZ
— Falah Mustafa (@FalahMustafa) October 26, 2018
Peshmerga from the Kurdistan Region have sacrificed more than 1,800 fighters against ISIS. Some 10,000 more were injured.
Mustafa met with Bahrain's Ambassador to Iraq Salah al-Maliki on the sidelines of the summit.