Al-Araby al-Jadid, London, February 17
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Jordan’s King Abdullah last week met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kazakh capital of Astana and thanked the latter for his country’s efforts to forge a Syrian ceasefire. Yet there was much more to this visit than meets the eye. The Jordanian Royal House has been growing increasingly anxious in recent weeks over the prospect of the outbreak of a broader regional war that would involve not only local actors but also foreign superpowers, a development that would bring even more destruction and carnage upon the Middle East. Following the downing of an Israeli F-16 by Syria and the heated battle that ensued between Iran and Israel, the potential for such a confrontation has become more probable. Both King Abdullah and President Putin need each other. Jordan has long been the only player in the region capable of talking to all parties involved in the Syrian war. Even today, Washington and Moscow rely on Amman to mediate between them on all matters pertaining to Syria. Russia, in turn, is clearly the only international player capable of influencing Iran, by setting clear restriction on the mullahs and holding them accountable for their actions. Accordingly, the Jordanian-Russian summit involved much more than the Syrian truce. Abdullah expressed his concern over Iran’s aggression and offered to work with the Kremlin to calm the situation on the ground. Indeed, both leaders are well aware that any confrontation in Syria will drag the entire region into a cycle of violence and bloodshed. It seems that, at least for now, the Russian president is heeding Jordan’s advice, with Putin having expressed a willingness to work with Amman to de-escalate tensions. Jordan can also help Russia deal with the Israelis and Palestinians by bringing the two sides to the negotiation table. It may be then that Jordan is the last responsible actor in the region and the only one, perhaps, capable of restoring stability. – Shihab al-Makahla