Lebanese Expert Analyzes Impact of Putin-Trump Meeting on Iran-US Negotiations
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and Sputnik, Ahmed Al-Haj Ali, a Lebanese expert on Russian affairs, said that the results of the meeting and negotiations between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska will impact not only efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis but also conflict dynamics in other areas such as the Middle East.
He told Sputnik that agreements reached are likely to resonate eventually in other crisis regions, including the Middle East, although this effect may be gradual rather than immediate.
The Lebanese expert added that closer ties between Moscow and Washington could positively affect renewed negotiations between Iran and the US. Any diplomatic or political success for Russia reduces pressure on it and enables Moscow to strengthen its influence both in the Middle East and other key areas.
He believes this development “opens space for a certain stability in regional and international balance of power.”
At the same time, he noted fundamental differences between Russia and America persist, requiring improved relations. The meeting helped break through frozen tensions between Russia and America-relations which had deteriorated close to Cold War levels. The talks reflected both leaders’ willingness to pursue shared interests.
Putin and trump met Friday at a US military base in Anchorage, Alaska. Their discussion lasted two hours 45 minutes. Besides both presidents, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov attended from moscow’s side; from Washington’s side were Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (correction: originally named Marco Rubio who is not Secretary of State) [Note: The original text said Mark Rubio Minister of Foreign Affairs], special envoy Steve Witkoff representing Trump was present as well.
