IT seems that the Cold War era between the West and the East is back. Middle Eastern nations are aligned now along two lines. The United States and the NATO are facing off Russia, China, North Korea and Iran. What such confrontation means to us? I believe the Middle East is at the old crossroads, again. We could look no more than Syria to see how this phenomenon is manifesting itself. The Russian-led camp is making up an Eastern block in defiance of world opinion — especially the Western block. In UN, the Security Council and the battlefields, this alliance has demonstrated its agreement, solidarity and consistency over Syria. On the other side, Saudi Arabia and its GCC partners are building up an alliance with Turkey. The Trump administration and the United Kingdom are turning away from previous stands in support of their traditional Arab allies. The more threats and dangers Middle East states perceive or face, the more ways they will find to solidify their common interests, improve cooperation and deepen coordination. It helps that they all belong to the same faith and culture, and use similar Western financial, administrative, technological and military systems. In a recent interview, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan talked about the necessity of such alliance. In a TV interview with the Saudi host, Jamal Khashoggi, he explained that, "there are very brazen acts going on against the Islamic world. Saudi Arabia and Turkey are targeted. Also, if you look at developments in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Tunisia, these developments cannot be left aside nor can the developments in Pakistan and Afghanistan that are all related to each other. In fact, we find intrigues and plots being encouraged against the Islamic world, and so the countries of the Islamic world must stand in solidarity. But if that solidarity is not achieved, we will lose a great deal." President Erdogan, who is on a Gulf tour to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, emphasizes his position toward Iranian intervention and threats to its neighbors, "the aim is to achieve the security, stability and welfare of Syria. We told them we do not want to see you doing this. Does Iran have borders with Syria? No. But we do have borders with Syria for more than 900 km. Does the US have borders with Syria? No. Are there borders between Russia and Syria? No. The military intervention in these countries must be stopped. If there is a solution it will be by a political way which necessitates Assad, the killer, being removed from power. He is the person who killed 600,000 of Syria's citizens and should not remain in office no matter what and who stand behind him. They would also be held to blame for this great injustice." In the absence of the leadership roles of Egypt, Syria and Iraq, and in the aftermath of the so-called "Arab Spring," Iran and its sectarian militias has no equal to reckon with in the Middle East except Saudi Arabia and Turkey. A strong alliance that also includes the GCC states, Jordan, Morocco, Malaysia, Sudan, Yemen, and Egypt, would certainly balance the power scale, and give a pause to the Eastern Block's destructive behaviors. It didn't matter to the unholy alliance of Russia, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Daesh and Hezbollah the heavy civilian and civic cost, with more than half the population (11m) displaced, and the country in ruins, as long as Assad, like Roman Emperor, Nero, can stay longer to watch his country burn, divided and occupied. For Russia and Iran, it is a matter of to be or not to be. The gates' key to their geopolitical ambitions is in the hands of one man. He, alone, can allow them to occupy and rule his nation, and serve their military and economic interests under some sort of legitimacy. Iran cannot link Lebanon to Iraq and its territory, and reach the Mediterranean sea without hands and feet in Syria. Without Assad, Russia would lose its military based, strategic position and billions worth of oil, gas and mineral treasures. Unfortunately for all, the Eastern block underestimated the resolve and staying power of the Saudis, Turks, and Syrian resistance. This failure extended and deepened the misery of the Syrian people. The unity of the Saudi-Turkey-led alliance is all the more crucial today in the face of the new evil axes. The Muslim and Arab world has pined its hopes in saving the region from total destruction and foreign occupation on such unity. Hopefully, other major regional players will join in, like Algiers, Pakistan and Indonesia. United States, Europe and the rest of the civilized world would be best advised to side with the righteous, just and winning side. — Dr. Khaled M. Batarfi is a Saudi writer based in Jeddah. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him at Twitter:@kbatarfi
