At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kazakhstan, Presidents Putin of Russia and Erdogan of Turkey hinted at a potential reconciliation with Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, after years of conflict. Once allies turned adversaries since Syria’s civil war began in 2011, Erdogan’s shift in stance aims to stabilize Turkey’s northern Syrian borders by ousting Kurdish groups and ending US troop presence. The leaders discussed the need to address terrorist threats in Syria and hinted at restoring diplomatic ties, potentially altering regional dynamics significantly.
During the ongoing Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) annual meeting in Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana, Russia’s Putin and Turkey’s Erdogan officially discussed Turkey’s possible rapprochement with Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian regime.
Turkish military continued to occupy areas of northern Syrian territory, although connections were severed in 2011 when the war began. Turkey was the leading NATO ally seeking regime change in Damascus, which included covert support for ISIS, al-Qaeda, and other jihadist insurgents.
However, Ankara’s aims have recently evolved as it seeks to eliminate Syrian Kurdish paramilitary groups in northern Syria while also reducing the presence of US troops. The Pentagon has long supported the Kurds’ desire for an autonomous territory, but both Assad and Erdogan agree that the US presence must cease soon.
“We couldn’t meet with my dear friend for a long time,” Erdogan had told Putin at the SCO during introductory remarks. In response, the Russian leader told a press briefing, “We continue to work actively on a number of the most important lines of international policy.” We are in constant contact with you. Our ministries and agencies are constantly exchanging information and coordinating positions on key areas.”
Concerning Syria, a Turkish summary of the Putin-Erdogan meeting stated, “He [Erdogan] stressed the importance of taking concrete steps to end the instabilities that create fertile ground for terrorist organizations, especially in the Syrian civil war… Turkey is ready to cooperate for a solution.”
This comes one week after Erdogan startled his own people and officials by declaring that there are now no obstacles to restoring official ties with Syria. According to The Associated Press:
His comments came just days after Syrian President Bashar Assad made similar remarks, indicating a willingness among the two neighboring countries to end tensions and normalize relations.
“There is no reason why (diplomatic ties) should not be established,” Erdogan told reporters.
“In the same way that we kept our relations with Syria alive in the past — we had these meetings with Mr Assad that included family meetings — we cannot say that it will not happen again,” Erdogan said. He was referring to a vacation that the Erdogan and Assad families took in southern Turkey in 2008, before their relationship soured.
There is talk of a future meeting between Syrian and Turkish delegations in Baghdad, but no date has been established.
During the SCO conference, Putin and Erdogan also discussed the potential of a peaceful settlement in Ukraine…
Turkey’s continued support for Syrian proxies, such as the “Syrian National Army” (SNA) and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), remains a major concern. The latter remains in control of Idlib and is affiliated with Syrian al-Qaeda.
If Assad and Erdogan reach a final agreement and restore relations, the Pentagon’s occupation of northeast Syria could come to an end. Erdogan has long declared publicly that this is his goal, even though both countries are members of NATO. Putin would undoubtedly like to see this happen as well.
Recently, GreatGameIndia reported that a former RAF commander has issued a chilling warning: Britain only has four fighter jets ready to defend against a potential Russian attack and is not prepared for an invasion.
