How Realistic Is It to Go Retro in Turkey-Syria Relations?
Compelling factors and actors push Turkey and Syria into a rapprochement course, but the facts on the ground may impede…
Syrian Civil War
Education in the Shadow of Civil War: Observations from the Ground in Syria
As northern Syria becomes safer, Syrian refugees voluntarily returning to their homes become more likely.
Kurdish Voices from Afrin Unheard in Western Media
“The western media portray all Kurds supporting the PYD. But Kurds are diverse. There are different parties, independent politicians, leftists,…
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Europe’s Syrian Slumber
Greece and Cyprus have taken a pro Assad stance to disturb Turkey, which has expanded its geopolitical prowess not only…
GCC-Damascus Rapprochement Can Pit Syria Against Turkey Even Further
Time will show whether a second “Damascus Declaration” will be pursued as the Gulf countries come closer to Damascus and…
What the Return of Mercenaries Means for the World Politics
There is good news. Mercenaries are as old as war, yet the world did not devolve into anarchy, as is…
Turkey, Russia and Iran agreed on the establishment of a constitutional commission in Syria
Yesterday in Geneva, Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Russia and Iran – Mevlut Cavusoglu, Sergey Lavrov, Muhammad Javad Zarif – agreed…
What is Turkey’s Military Agenda in Northern Syria?
Turkey’s strategic objective is clear: to de-territorialize the YPG/PYD alongside its Syrian border, fix relations with the U.S. in Syria…
Can the US have its Cake and Eat it too in Syria?
The U.S. balancing act between supporting the PYD and providing reassurances to Turkey to be able to cooperate on the…
Combatting Criminal Gangs in Northern Syria
While some media outlets reported efforts in Syria as “internal fighting among Turkey-backed groups,” in reality, there was a “clean…
Has Turkey’s Syria Policy Changed?
Turkey’s policy of keeping and enlarging its military presence in Syria has two aims: Sustaining Turkey’s national security against YPG…
Does Quadruple Talk in Istanbul Signal Peace for Syria?
One way to prevent a regime coalition offensive in Idlib would be if the U.S. stepped in. If the U.S.…
Turkey may consult with its 81 million citizens for EU accession process
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke at the TRT World Forum, touching upon issues such as reforming the UN, the…
The False Promise of the United Nations
In order to start a new initiative for UN reform, the UNGA should question President Trump’s speech as it reveals…
Turkey Buys Time (and Hope) for Idlib
Turkey’s Idlib deal gave the rebels one more month to consider their options. It gave Turkey another month to make…
Winning Idlib
At this stage, the most important objective for Turkey is to solve the potential radicalization of the armed groups. If…
Can the Turkish-Russian Deal Save Idlib?
Turkey’s diplomatic success may have just saved thousands of innocent lives as well as yet another unnecessary humanitarian crisis. However,…
As Diplomacy Moves on in Idlib, so does Turkey’s Deterrence Strategy
Turkey’s primary strategy in this game is to deter the Syrian regime from a brutal offensive while trying to find…
Does Turkey’s Idlib Resolution Work?
This is the right time for the international society to take real responsibility in order to overcome the already deepening…
Idlib and the Implications of a Shifting US Policy on Syria
With the recent U.S. appointment of James Jeffrey, the new representative for engagement on Syria, there are signs that Washington…
Idlib: Russia Should Compromise and the US Should Help
Defending civilians against the brutality of the Assad regime and his allies should not only be Turkey’s responsibility. The international…
Turkey’s take on the Tehran Summit on Idlib
Yes, the joint statement did not guarantee a fully peaceful solution over Idlib but this diplomatic traffic is still better…
