Obama, Hollande seek shift in Russian strategy before joint action

United States and France on Tuesday said they would like Russia to be part of their joint efforts to fight the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, but put the onus on Russia to prove its credentials by giving up its support to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.

Hours after NATO member Turkey downed along its border with Syria a Russian warplane, US president Barack Obama and French President Francois Hollande indicated a toughening in the coalition’s stance towards Russia. “We have a global coalition of 65 countries and Russia is an outlier. Russia and Iran are a coalition of two, supporting Assad. Given Russia’s military capabilities and their influence on Assad, their cooperation can help the fight against IS,” Mr. Obama said. “But Russia must make a strategic shift” he said, Mr. Hollande by his side at the White House, after a meeting in which they decided to “broaden and intensify strikes” against IS targets.

Mr. Obama defended the Turkish strike that brought down the Russian plane. “Every country has a right to protect its territory and its airspace,” he said, suggesting that Russia was responsible for it. “Russia and Turkey must talk to each other. This points to an ongoing problem as Russian planes have been targeting moderate opposition forces in that area, who are supported, also by Turkey,” Mr. Obama said while Mr. Hollande added that he could “only regret” the incident. The France president, called for Russia and Turkey to take measures to avoid escalation of the conflict.

Asked whether the coalition could consider coordinated operation with Russia against IS, Mr. Obama said for that to happen, Russia must “refocus its attention on IS.” “Until that happens, it (coordinated operation) is very difficult,” he said.

Mr. Hollande, who is scheduled to travel to Moscow after his Washington visit, said he would make the same request to President Vladimir Putin of Russia. “When I go to Moscow, I will request President Putin that we must have a single goal, which is to fight the IS,” Mr. Hollande said.

“All that we are doing now to degrade the IS, cutting down their supply lines and financing, sharing intelligence with ground forces can be supplemented by Russia, if they are willing to change their strategy. Perhaps they will do so in the future,” Mr. Obama said.