Bangladesh, Oct. 27 -- Vladimir Putins red-carpet welcome for Syrias interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa last week was more than just a diplomatic gesture – it was a stark demonstration of Russias new pragmatism in the Middle East. For over a decade, Moscow had been the principal backer of Bashar al-Assads brutal regime, providing the Syrian strongman with weapons, money, and political cover at the United Nations. Yet today, the Kremlin has opened its doors to the very man who led the campaign to overthrow Assad. The optics of this moment – Al-Sharaa shaking hands with Putin while Assad reportedly hides somewhere in Moscow – encapsulate a dramatic shift in Russias foreign policy: from power projection to damage control.

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