On the evening of December 15, Reuters quoted Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler as saying that the country is ready to support, including military, the new government in Syria. The announcement was made just 2 days after Türkiye’s Intelligence Director visited Syria, and the country also just reopened its Embassy in Damascus.
Influence increases
For many years, Türkiye has wanted to overthrow the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, which received a lot of support from Iran. Ankara has supported a number of military forces opposing Mr. al-Assad. Therefore, the recent change of government in Syria is considered to have helped enhance Ankara’s position in the region, especially against its rival Tehran.
In incoming analysis AdolescentEurasia Group (USA), the world’s leading political risk research and consulting company, pointed out the benefits that Türkiye gained after the opposition forces won in Syria. The government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan belongs to the Sunni branch of Islam, while Iran and many other powers in the Middle East and North Africa belong to the Shiite branch of Islam. For hundreds of years, Türkiye has always been at the forefront of the power competition with Shiite Muslim governments in the region. With this victory in Syria, Türkiye’s influence will increase.
President Erdogan spoke at the commissioning ceremony of the landing ship TCG Anadolu
In addition, one of Ankara’s major challenges is the Kurdish community’s struggle to establish a state with related lands in Iraq, Syria and Türkiye. Over the years, Ankara has frequently come into conflict with Kurdish military forces, including military operations that Türkiye conducts in Syria. Therefore, when Türkiye can influence the government in Syria, it will put more pressure on the Kurds.
Besides, since the Syrian civil war broke out in 2011, Türkiye has had to accept about 4 million refugees in the neighboring country. When Mr. al-Assad’s government falls, Ankara can send refugees back to Syria to relieve the burden on Türkiye. In addition, Türkiye’s economy is facing difficulties, so success in Syria could help President Erdogan’s government consolidate its domestic power.
Rise up
Türkiye’s position has increased since President Erdogan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) took power in 2002. After a period of promoting economic development, Ankara gradually expanded its influence in the region. area.
Researcher Dimitar Bechev (Carnegie Europe Foundation) assessed: “Since coming to power in 2002, President Erdogan has radically transformed Turkey. Once a pillar of the Western alliance in the region , the country has begun a military foreign policy, intervening in regional hotspots from Nagorno-Karabakh to Libya”.
Similarly, a recent analysis by the Council on Foreign Relations (US) also assessed that Türkiye under Mr. Erdogan has continuously stepped up its foreign power, such as being willing to intervene militarily in Libya and Syria. , asserting territorial claims in the Mediterranean… This effort is considered to be aimed at the position of a regional power.
Ankara has continuously improved its military strength in recent years. While Iran is still completing aircraft carriers for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Türkiye last year began deploying the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu (L-400). This warship has the combat capabilities of an aircraft carrier for UAVs. Ankara has deployed many lines of long-range UAVs for TCG Anadolu, typically the Baykar Bayraktar TB3 has a maximum range of about 1,900 km and can carry many types of weapons such as missiles, laser-guided artillery…
Türkiye has also emerged as a supplier of many types of combat UAVs – which are increasingly asserting their position on the modern battlefield – to many countries. Ankara’s list of weapons buyers is growing. Typically, Ukraine early on bought many UAVs from Türkiye to deal with Russia on the battlefield. Earlier this year, Kyiv cooperated with Türkiye’s Baykar Company to produce armed UAVs right in Ukraine. The supply of weapons has become an important means for Türkiye to enhance its power not only in the region.
On the other hand, in recent years, despite being an ally of the West and a member of NATO, Türkiye has also become an increasingly important partner of both Russia and China. Therefore, Ankara is not only increasingly building greater power in the region, but also in many world political situations.
Israel doubled its troops in the Golan Heights
Reuters reported that the Israeli government on December 15 approved a plan expected to cost more than 40 million shekels (11 million USD) to double the population of the Golan Heights after rebels overthrew the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Bashar. Assad.
“Consolidating the Golan Heights is strengthening the state of Israel, and this is especially important at this time. We will continue to maintain, expand and develop here,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared. dad. There are currently about 31,000 Israelis residing in the Golan Heights.
In another development, Prime Minister Netanyahu said on December 15 that he discussed with US President-elect Donald Trump on issues related to Tel Aviv’s commitment to preventing the rise of Hezbollah and the Hamas-Israel conflict. and the importance of rescuing the remaining hostages in the Gaza Strip. According to the Israeli leader, the two sides discussed the situation in Syria after Mr. al-Assad was overthrown. “We are not interested in conflict with Syria. Israel’s actions in Syria are aimed at deterring potential threats there and preventing a takeover by terrorist elements near the border,” Mr. Netanyahu speak. Mr. Trump’s side has not commented on the above information.
Tri Do
