The interaction between the USA under Trump and Russia in Syria was characterized by a complex mix of limited cooperation, strategic competition, military deconfliction efforts, and diplomatic engagements, all taking place within the broader context of deteriorating US-Russia relations [5]. Despite political tensions, the militaries of both nations managed to maintain communication channels while pursuing largely incompatible objectives in Syria [5].

Military Deconfliction Mechanisms

The most consistent area of engagement between the Trump administration and Russia in Syria was the military deconfliction process, which aimed to prevent accidental clashes between American and Russian forces operating in Syria [5]. These arrangements gained greater importance in June 2017 when a US Navy F/A-18 shot down a Syrian regime Su-22 jet after it dropped bombs near US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces [30]. The deconfliction system included a memorandum of understanding covering air safety protocols, communication frequencies, and a twenty-four-hour operational communication line [5]. High-level military contacts, particularly the channel between Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford and his Russian counterpart, General Valery Gerasimov, proved valuable for managing potentially dangerous situations [5].

Strategic Divergence and Competition

Despite these practical mechanisms, the core US and Russian policy objectives in Syria remained fundamentally incompatible [5]. For Russia, the overriding goal was to save the Assad regime, thwart US-backed regime change efforts, neutralize terrorist groups, and preserve Moscow's sole military foothold in the Middle East [5]. The Trump administration, meanwhile, focused primarily on defeating ISIS while limiting Iran's influence in Syria [4]. This strategic divergence led to constant tension, with the Pentagon accusing Russia of intentionally violating the airspace deconfliction agreement in December 2017 [30]. US defense officials emphasized they did not coordinate military activities with Russia, as military cooperation was explicitly prohibited by the National Defense Authorization Act [5].

Trump's Withdrawal Decisions and Regional Impact

President Trump's decision to withdraw US troops from northeastern Syria in October 2019 marked a significant shift in US-Russia dynamics in Syria [3]. This abrupt withdrawal was widely criticized for ceding American influence to Russia and other regional powers [3]. In a symbolic display of this power transition, Russian troops raised the Russian flag over Kobani airfield after taking command of a former US airbase [2]. Trump declared the withdrawal a success, but critics argued he had strengthened Russia's hand while undermining America's credibility with allies [3]. The decision opened the door for a Russian-Turkish agreement to divide control of areas along the Turkey-Syria border [3].

Limited Diplomatic Agreements

Despite tensions, the US and Russia did achieve some limited diplomatic agreements on Syria. In July 2017, the United States, Russia, and Jordan reached a deal to foster a ceasefire in a limited area of southwestern Syria [28]. This agreement came after months of negotiations, with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson describing it as "our first indication of the U.S. and Russia being able to work together in Syria" [28]. In November 2017, Presidents Trump and Putin approved a joint statement on Syria affirming that "there is no military solution to the conflict" and confirming their commitment to Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity [30].

Economic Aspects and Sanctions

The economic dimension of US-Russia interactions regarding Syria was primarily characterized by sanctions rather than cooperation [22]. President Trump signed the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which enacted new sanctions on Russia, Iran, and North Korea [22]. These sanctions had implications for Syria, where both Russia and Iran maintained significant influence. By January 2025, as Trump began his second term, discussions emerged about potential sanctions relief for Syria after the fall of the Assad regime [37]. The Trump administration's foreign assistance freeze raised questions about future US economic engagement in Syria [37].

Putin's Strategic Gains

Many analysts concluded that Russia emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of Trump's Syria policy [2]. Moscow's relatively modest military deployment in Syria paid off handsomely, allowing Russia to save the Assad regime, transform the direction of Syria's civil war, create significant leverage vis-à-vis the United States, and decisively return to the ranks of top-tier players in Middle Eastern politics [5]. Russia effectively exploited its close working relationship with the Assad regime and capitalized on the extensive web of connections forged during its decades-long military and intelligence presence in Syria [5].

Russia's intervention in Syria under Trump's presidency fundamentally altered the balance of power in the region, with Putin using Syria to establish himself as the power that could prevent regime change and send a message that aligning with Russia offered protection even for controversial regimes [2].

Dangerous Incidents and Near-Misses

Despite deconfliction efforts, Syria's crowded battlefield witnessed several dangerous incidents between US and Russian forces [5]. One of the most serious confrontations occurred in February 2018, when Russian private military contractors attacked a US special operations outpost in Deir Ezzor Province, resulting in hundreds of Russian casualties [5]. Russian aircraft also engaged in potentially dangerous maneuvers near US planes, consistent with Moscow's confrontational tactics in other regions like the Baltic and Black Sea [5].

Legacy of Trump's Syria Policy

By the time Trump left office, his approach to Syria had weakened America's ability to address real security threats like terrorism while enabling Russia's continued expansion of influence in the Middle East [2]. The vacuum created by US policy shifts was filled by Russia, which now wielded unprecedented influence in Syria alongside Turkey and Iran [3]. Many historians and analysts view Trump's Syria policy as having ceded significant regional influence to America's rivals, particularly Russia [3].

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