He was the leader on the world stage, visiting troops stationed in a far-flung war zone for the holidays, shoring up alliances and economic deals in the Mideast, requesting a meeting with the German chancellor in his capital, portraying himself and his country as reliable partners in an increasingly uncertain world.
![US allies see Mideast strategy vacuum that Putin can fill](https://media.zenfs.com/en/ap.org/f36648b9ca988b104942ce3507e45f1a)
Russian President
Vladimir Putin has had a busy week, stepping into the aftermath of the
American drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
Putin’s visit Tuesday to
Syria was emblematic of a reality that has been playing out in recent months: The U.S. strategic position in the
Middle East is a mystery to many of its allies, and
Russia is more than ready to fill any vacuum.