ANDREW MALCOLM: Russia trains Iran as dominant military force as the U.S., well, warns again.

This all presents a growing threat to American allies and influence as Trump builds and gets his new administration up to speed in both foreign and domestic policies. But the president already faces a de facto axis of opposition power with Russia and Iran controlling Syria as a de facto client state.

Trump’s continuation of Obama’s drift there needs to change. The president meets this week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and already conferred with Jordan’s King Abdullah on Feb. 2, in addition to numerous telephone consultations with other leaders.

Now would not be a good time to press Israel on some grand new Palestinian peace deal, and especially not to be seen doing so.