Russia Remains An Unlikely Partner for France Against ISIS
Résumé
French President François Hollande continues his diplomatic marathon this week in Paris, hosting the international COP21 climate conference. However, despite renewed condolences from all sides, the limits of what Hollande can achieve were starkly apparent during his discussions with Presidents Obama and Putin on November 24 and 26: there will be no large, united military coalition against the self-proclaimed Islamic State group (ISIS), but limited “coordination” of air strikes. Russia adamantly clings to its alliance with Iran and the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria. Never have diverging views over the struggle against Islamic terrorism, and incompatible strategic objectives for a post-war Syria, stood out so glaringly...