AP Photo/Peter Dejong

Western countries have always considered Russia and its strategies serious threats to their interests. They had thought that terrorism could be controlled. But they had to change their views following a series of IS terror attacks in Europe. Russia has quickly become their partner in the fight against IS.

On the sidelines of the G20 summit in Turkey, US President Barak Obama urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to concentrate on the fight against IS. The US President reiterated his proposal at the 23^rd APEC summit in the Philippines. US President left open the possibility for Washington to establish military cooperation with Moscow in countering IS. In a telephone conversation on November 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Francois Hollande agreed to strengthen cooperation between their armies and intelligence services to fight terrorist groups in Syria. The Russian President has ordered Russian patrol ships in the Mediterranean Sea to join French ships to fight IS. This was the first time since the end of World War II, Russia and France shook hands as allies to fight IS. President Hollande will visit Moscow this week to discuss with President Putin the fight against IS and the situation in Syria. In his address at the 23^rd APEC summit in the Philippines on November 18, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said differences between a number of Western countries and Russia have been narrowed and now they agreed to join efforts to fight terrorism.

The cooperation between Russia and the West will be better if they can reach consensus on the Syrian issue and the future of President Bashar Al Assad. The 4-year long conflict has turned Syria into a stronghold of IS. A united Syria will uproot the IS. In face of IS becoming a threat to security and peace around the world, the cooperation between Russia and Western countries promise positive signs for the fight against IS.