I read with interest the article “Changing political landscape” (Dec. 30) by Eyad Abu Shakra. The US “retreat” from the region and the Russian “expansion” in the Middle East is a major development that should be dealt with extreme caution. I believe that the US’ decreasing role or should I call influence in the region is not such a bad thing but Russia’s growing involvement should be taken seriously. I have nothing against US or Russia but it is high time the Arab world took matters in its own hands and stopped its reliance on foreign powers. Be it Russia or America, none of the foreign players should be allowed to interfere in the region to promote their own agendas. I am not at all advocating an isolationist approach but the Arab world should learn from its past mistakes.

This new form of colonialism should not be encouraged. US inaction and Russian involvement in Syria, for example, has aggravated the situation. Both sides are trying to act in their interest and the Arabs are bearing the brunt.