How developments in Syria and Ukraine impact one another Russia, US, Turkey, Iran, Israel

NEW TRENDS THAT ALSO SHAPE 2019 In late 2018 and early 2019, several developments took place in Eastern Europe and the Middle East influencing the situation in these regions. In Syria, the Trump Administration is attempting to reconcile the irreconcilable contradictions of the US militarys illegal presence in Syria, where its use of the Kurds as its proxy army has antagonized Turkey and pushed it into a closer relationship with both Russia and Iran. In an apparent hope of bringing Turkey back to the fold, on December 19, US President Donald Trump officially announced a full and rapid withdrawal of US troops from Syria. Commenting on the move, the US President declared that his country had defeated ISIS and argued the withdrawal was consistent with one of his promises the limitation of the US participation in conflicts around the world was one of the key narratives of his presidential campaign. Despite this, the President, his administration and the Pentagon provided no details into the announced deci