The implications of Russian airstrikes in Syria for Turkey
Date
10/30/2015 6:49:01 PM
(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) In September 2015 Russia directly intervened in the Syrian conflict thus complicating the situation in the country. Before officially engaging however Russia forged ahead with a serious military build-up in the country seeking to strengthen its foothold in Syria by sending crates of weapons and equipment to the Khmeimim airbase near Latakia. Additionally Russian authorities preemptively began to emphasize the legitimacy of their forces’ current and potential presence in Syria based on international law.
Although some experts point tothe importance of ISIS as the main reason for Russia’s intervention in Syria according to USAK Expert Hasan Selim Özertem the three main factors behind Russia’s decision are: the changing military dynamics in Syria the new international set-up after the conclusion of the P5+1 agreement with Iran and the desire of Russia to test its military equipment in the conflict.
Russia’s decision to engage has resulted in various outcomes at the local regional and international levels and as Özertem stresses it has had two main implications for the Republic of Turkey.
Firstly it has clouded the well-established image of the “special partnership” between Russia and Turkey that was shaped throughout the 2000s. Hence it has necessitated the design of new channels between Turkey and Russia in order to avoid the risk of diplomatic and military escalation from overshadowing economic cooperation.
Secondly Russia’s intervention has created a new reality on the ground which forces Turkey to revise its policies on the Syrian conflict.
Considering these rapidly changing dynamics the policy brief titled “Russia’s Shifting Strategy in Syria and its Implications for Turkish Foreign Policy” written by USAK Expert Hasan Selim Özertem delves into the details of the Russian intervention and explores the implications of this development for Turkish foreign policy.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.