Experts in Turkey Differ on Syria Policy
A group of well-informed experts on Syria warned that Turkey may face unprecedented challenges after a potential military strike against the Assad regime.
At Ankara’s Esenboga Airport, upon Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's arrival from Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, Aug. 28, he said, “The existence of a regime that uses chemical weapons against its own people in a barbaric way, right next to our country, is a risk in itself. We have never attempted to bring down a regime, but we have taken a clear stand against a regime committing crimes against its own people. I’m stating this to correct some incorrect perceptions [regarding Turkey’s position.] It’s not right to think that Turkey will follow in the footsteps of some plans or some decisions taken on its behalf.”
Davutoglu is right that under his vision Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has put in place an independent policy toward Syria, which did not work. In fact, on Aug. 28, experts at the 21st Century Turkey Institute discussed the potential military strike against the Bashar al-Assad regime and drew attention to four main points.
