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Russia grows stronger in East Med while US looks for comfort

| Opinion
International focus has been on the Middle East for decades and particularly on Iran, Syria, …
  • Analysis: Constitutional Reforms in Russia | Causes and Consequences
    Analysis

    This analysis addresses the potential changes in the constitution of the Russian Federation and the reasons behind the acting government’s resignation brought upon by President Putin on January 15, 2020. The work aims to underline the causes behind the proposed constitutional amendments and the government dissolution as well as its consequences on the future governance of Russia.
  • A displaced Syrian boy stands outside a tent at an informal camp in Kafr Lusin village on the border with Turkey in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, Feb. 21, 2020. (AFP Photo)
    Opinion

    To solve the crisis in Idlib, the international community is hoping for the success of a four-nation summit and fresh diplomatic talks. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel and France's President Emmanuel Macron, scheduled to take place on March 5, keeps alive the hope of ending what the U.N. called “the worst humanitarian crisis of the 21st century” diplomatically.
  • Syrian families, who have been forced to displace despite attacks carried out by Assad regime and Russia, sit on soil field despite the cold weather during winter season at Harbanush village in Idlib
    Opinion

    The recent escalation of violence between Turkey and the Assad regime in violation of the Sochi deal marks a significantly tense moment that may risk a deterioration of relations between Ankara and Moscow. Turkey has given an ultimatum to the Assad regime to withdraw its troops outside of the zone encircled by Turkey's military observation points until the end of February. So far, the Assad regime has resisted the idea of withdrawal and continued to expand further into the territory. However, Turkey expects its Russian counterparts to either convince or force the Assad regime to comply with the conditions laid out as part of the Sochi deal that was signed in September 2018.

Bu Konuda Daha Fazla

  • Map indicating locations of Russia and Turkey

    Andrej Kreutz raised a poignant question in his book from 2007, "Russia in the Middle East: Friend or Foe," well before the Syrian civil war erupted in 2011. Even though Russia has been an important player in the Middle East since the Cold War era, its influence in the region has burgeoned since Syrian President Bashar Assad invited Moscow into the Syrian civil war in 2015.

  • Total of 150 military vehicles of Turkish Armed Forces' pass through Reyhanli district of Turkey's Hatay as they are being deployed to Syria border as reinforcements, including howitzers, tanks, ammunition, armored construction machines and other military vehicles on February 17, 2020.

    Turkey is fighting on three fronts to manage the Idlib crisis: a military operation, diplomacy and international public opinion.

  • Armoured personnel carriers and tanks of Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) are seen on their way as Turkey continues to deploy reinforcements to observation points in Syria's Idlib on February 09, 2020 in Hatay, Turkey.TAF deployed armoured personnel carriers (APC), launching pads, tanks and ammunitions to observation points in Syria's Idlib.

    No region will be safe or secure unless the Syrian regime brutality is put to an end

  • Syrian families, who have been forced to displace due to the ongoing attacks carried out by Assad regime and Russia, are seen on their way to safer zones with their belongings, from Daret Izze, Etarib regions in Idlib, Syria on February 11, 2020. More than 27.000 civilians have fled their homes falling inside the Idlib de-escalation zone in Syria over the last four days due to attacks of regime and its allies.

    Even though the Syrian crisis continues to influence politics in the Middle East and the global balance, the European Union and major European powers, like the U.K., Germany and France, have continued to be the most reluctant and ineffective actors dealing with the crisis.

  • Turkey’s president presented a book about the country’s role in NATO to the leaders of Germany, France and Britain during a quartet meeting in the U.K. Recep Tayyip Erdogan presented Turkey: The Powerful Member of the Strategic Alliance published by the Turkish Communications Directorate to French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Published in Turkish, English, French and German, the book provides detailed information about the duties and contributions of NATO member Turkey to the alliance. The book, which touches on the perspectives of Turkey and other countries regarding NATO, also has a chapter on Turkey's expectations from the alliance. The chapter highlighted the common fight against terrorism as well as the expected continuation of NATO's contributions to Turkey's defense. Turkey's expectations regarding contributions of NATO members to the establishment of a safe zone in northern Syria were also expressed in this section. The book was also presented to U.S. President Donald Trump and his delegation during Erdogan's visit to the U.S..

    There is an ongoing debate on Turkey's foreign policy decisions vis-a-vis the brewing crisis in Idlib. A rhetorical whirlpool has emerged around tensions with Russia, the significance of U.S. and EU statements, and Turkey's homework for Idlib.

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