Turkish writer: Ankara is sailing against the current in northern Syria

NEWS DESK

An article written by Samih Idis to the US Monitor website indicates that the recent statements between the United States and Ankara indicate differences on the Syrian file.

The writer added "Turkey has engaged in a series of high-level contacts with the United States and Russia to negotiate the future of northern Syria and the eastern Euphrates after Donald Trump's decision to withdraw US troops from Syria."

Ankara wants to establish a strong military presence in the region to fight what analysts see as "Kurdish phobia."

The writer notes that recent statements by Washington and Moscow have once again highlighted Ankara's difficulties in trying to achieve its goal.

Ankara is now trying to gauge the importance of Washington's announcement that it will leave up to 400 troops in Syria after most US troops have withdrawn from that country in line with President Trump's decision in December.

Turkey's position on the region remains unchanged and leaves little room for compromise. He believes that Ankara wants Washington to coordinate its withdrawal from Syria with the Turkish army, and that this withdrawal in an orderly manner, so that the Turkish forces can control the bases left by the Americans.

"Ankara wants a security zone in Syria with a depth of 30 to 40 kilometers, and it is controlled exclusively by the Turkish army and its mercenaries in the Free Syrian Army," he said.

The author stresses that Turkey does not want the presence of Russia or the Syrian regime in this region as well.

The Ankara talks with Washington and Moscow have failed to reach any concrete results on these issues so far.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a telephone conversation with Trump on February 21. A day later, Turkish warlord Hulusi Akar was in Washington for talks with Acting Defense Minister Patrick Chanahan.

In addition, US officials, who are part of a "task force" set up during the Turkish foreign minister's visit to Washington earlier this month, will be in Ankara this week for talks focused on details of the US withdrawal.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Vietnamese television: "Negotiations with Turkey in northern Syria are continuing."

"He was trying to present the Turkish-Russian dialogue positively, but his statements were problematic for Ankara," he said.

Lavrov's proposal, for example, that the Russian military police conduct patrols on the Syrian border with Turkey.

The writer notes that Moscow is still opposed to any foreign military presence in Syria does not agree with the Syrian regime, and confirms that Lavrov noted that the Syrian regime was opposed to any military presence Turkish in Syria.

Moscow wants the Syrian regime to gain full control of northern Syria after the US withdrawal, including the territories that Turkey has taken over in Syria," he said.

Turkey, for its part, does not want to see the regime's forces in the east of the Euphrates River, because the regime and the People's Protection Units (YPG) may cooperate against Turkey.

The Turkish writer explained that Lavrov's comments regarding YPG when he said "we do not have a common vision about who should be considered terrorists," provoked Turkey's anger.

The American decision to leave a contingent of troops in Syria "as peacekeepers" appears at first glance to be a new setback for Ankara. However, some analysts believe that this could be a convincing blessing, because it is not yet clear who will fill the "void" created by the US exit from Syria.

However, Ankara is aware that various branches of the US administration and the US Congress are working hard to persuade Trump to reverse his decision to withdraw troops from Syria.

The Turkish side also took note of the American press reports, citing sources of administration indicating that the presence of a limited number of US troops in Syria would be more than "symbolic".

These reports indicate that this military presence, as indicated, means that the US military will continue to control airspace in north-east of Syria, and continues its logistics operations there.

In the meantime, there are still differences between Ankara and Washington over who will manage the security zone in northern Syria, which the United States agreed to establish in principle.

"Is Ankara prepared to escalate the situation in Syria, since it will face opposition from Washington and Moscow, not to mention Iran and the major Arab states, if it moves forward?

Many believe Erdogan is playing only at a local show as critical local elections are approaching.

However, the main point, according to the writer, is that Turkey is unlikely to back down on its demands in northern Syria, even if it blasts against strong currents in its attempt to achieve its objectives.

(T/S)

ANHA