Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw American troops from Syria has started to change the balance of power in the war-torn country where regional and international powers have long been involved in a complex situation. Russian troops have now moved into northern Syria to fill the security vacuum left by the United States, and Syrian government forces are taking over areas previously controlled by US-backed Kurdish fighters.

The majority of Washington’s foreign policy elite see the evolving situation as a big win for the Russian and Syrian governments, and a loss for the United States. However, experts argue that there has been no good reason for the United States to remain in Syria and the withdrawal should have eventually happened.

Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad are seen as winners in northern Syria, but that was expected even before the Turkish incursion, says Robert Rabil, professor of political science at Florida Atlantic University.

“Our presence was too small and our policy has been incoherent in the Middle East in general, and Syria in particular,” he told The Independent. Professor Rabil suggested that everyone start looking at the Syrian regime as the Putin-Asad regime now, adding that “Damascus is Putin’s satellite capital”. The United States cannot reverse what has happened but it is essential for the Americans to speak with both Putin and Erdogan to reach some agreement over Kurds, refugees and Salafi-jihadis, Rabil says.

The White House has announced that President Trump was sending Vice President Mike Pence and national security adviser Robert O'Brien to Ankara as soon as possible to begin negotiations over a stop to the fighting.

Turkey launches offensive into Syria Show all 25 1 /25 Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkish soldiers with armored vehicles EPA Turkey launches offensive into Syria A woman flees with her children during Turkish bombardment on Syria's northeastern town of Ras al-Ain AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Smoke billows following Turkish bombardment on Syria's northeastern town of Ras al-Ain in the Hasakeh province along the Turkish border on October 9, 2019. - Turkey launched an assault on Kurdish forces in northern Syria with air strikes and explosions reported along the border. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the start of the attack on Twitter, labelling it "Operation Peace Spring". (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP) (Photo by DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images) DELIL SOULEIMAN AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria The first group of Turkish infantry prepare to enter Syria on the border Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Civilians flee AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Smoke billows from targets inside Syria AP Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkish armoured vehicles enter Syria in Akcakale Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Civilians leave as smoke rises from Ras al-Ain AFP Turkey launches offensive into Syria A multi-rocket launcher fires in an unknown location Turkish Defence Ministry via Reuters Turkey launches offensive into Syria People wave as Turkish soldiers prepare to cross the border Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Girls stand together in Ras al Ain town Reuters Turkey launches offensive into Syria A woman walks as smoke billows following Turkish bombardment in Syria's northeastern town of Ras al-Ain AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria A Turkish army's tank drives down from a truck towards the border with Syria AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkish jet taxis on tarmac after returning to a military base in southeast Diyarbakir Reuters Turkey launches offensive into Syria A Turkish armored vehicle drives down a road during a military operation in Kurdish areas of northern Syria EPA Turkey launches offensive into Syria People sit on belongings at a back of a truck as they flee Ras al Ain town Reuters Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkey-backed Syrian opposition fighters enter Tel Abyad AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Civilians flee AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria People flee Tal Abyad North Press Agency/Reuters TV Turkey launches offensive into Syria People wave as Turkish soldiers prepare to cross the border into Syria Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Civilians flee with their belongings AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Civilians flee during Turkish bombardment on Syria's northeastern town of Ras al-Ain in the Hasakeh province along the Turkish border on October 9, 2019. - Turkey launched a broad assault on Kurdish-controlled areas in northeastern Syria today, with intensive bombardment paving the way for an invasion made possible by the withdrawal of US troops. (Photo by Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP) (Photo by DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images) DELIL SOULEIMAN AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, speaks with Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, left, as they watch the operation by Turkish forces in Kurdish areas EPA Turkey launches offensive into Syria Smoke rises from the Syrian town of Tal Abyad AFP/Getty Turkey launches offensive into Syria Turkey-backed members of Syrian National Army prepare for moving to Turkey with heavy armed vehicles EPA

There have also been concerns that after the US withdrawal, Syrian forces advancing into Kurdish areas would clash with Turkish forces. That would be prevented if Putin and Erdogan reach an agreement for Turkey to control some border areas deemed essential to its security, the rest be taken over by Syrian government forces, and Russian forces in the middle of the two.

Experts who long believed that the United States should get out of Syria blame Trump not for withdrawing but for failing to manage a competent plan.

Ben Friedman, policy director at Defense Priorities and adjunct professor at the George Washington University, calls it the right policy handled with stunning incompetence.

“The deal now struck between the Kurds and the Syrian government was available eight months ago, when it could have happened without a Turkish invasion.” Friedman said that would probably have given the Syrian Kurds safety from Turkey, while also keeping Isis down and facilitating a US withdrawal. “I still support withdrawal, but regret that US policy made an ugly situation worse in the way we left,” he added.

Staying in Syria has proven to be a risky policy without much clear end goal for the United States under both Trump and Obama administrations. Barack Obama limited efforts to overthrow Assad but still supported Syrian rebels who did not win. The bipartisan consensus in Washington has long been that the US should help oust Assad while fighting Isis. But overthrowing Assad has proved to be unlikely and the American public has lost track of the complexities of the situation on the ground.

Syrians take to the streets to celebrate agreement between the Kurdish fighters and government forces