Strategic Council Online: An Asian affairs expert has described a security conference between heads of Turkish and Syrian intelligence agencies in Russia after long years an important and eye-catching development. “Considering its field victories Syria seems to have sent a strong message to the Turkish authorities about complete withdrawal from Syrian lands and the decision to fight terrorism and return all occupied Syrian lands.
Strategic Council Online: Although the increase in the number of US troops deployed in eastern Syria cannot significantly affect major developments and the security order in the West Asian region due to its small number, but it could contribute to continuation of Syrian and Iraqi crises as well as affect the oil markets.
Dr. Hossein Ajorlou – Middle East affairs expert
Strategic Council Online: A university professor cited Moscow’s announcement that Khalifa Haftar has left Moscow without signing a ceasefire agreement with the Libyan National Unity Government, saying: “Until the Arab countries are convinced that Khalifa Haftar will have the upper hand in the agreements to be reached, they will not be willing to allow him to agree to a ceasefire.”
Strategic Council Online: Despite the geographical, strategic and economic importance of Libya for Turkey, the Mediterranean movements of Ankara occur within the framework of a new policy Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeks to apply.
Siamak Kakai – Turkey Affairs expert
Strategic Council Online: With stability gradually returning to Syria, the countries at war with Syria are now struggling to make a contribution to rebuilding the country and at the same time reap the economic benefits.
Mohammad Lahooti – President of the Iranian Export Confederation
Strategic Council Online: The most important reason for Washington’s lifting of Cyprus arms embargo is the serious threat against Israeli and Egyptian interests in the region prompted by an agreement reached between Turkey and Libya over security-military and border issues in recent weeks and demarcating marine boundaries. The US Senate has voted to lift the arms embargo on Cyprus in a move that will displease Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ghadir Golkarian – Professor at Near East University in Cyprus
Strategic Council Online: An expert on Turkish issues has called Ankara’s policies toward Syria “ambitious” and said that under the current conditions Turkey faces challenges in the field of terrorism, the Syrian refugee crisis and the Kurdish separatism near its border that may face its internal security with a challenge.
Strategic Council Online: An international relations professor said that Turkey had entered into the Syrian crisis by unrealistic and inaccurate calculations, adding: “Turkey not only failed to achieve its initial goals but the crisis made Ankara face new challenges.”
Strategic Council Online: The Turkish government has announced that its army will remain on the Syrian soil until the political situation in Syria is stabilized despite calls by Iran, Russia and the Damascus government for withdrawal of foreign forces including the Turkish army from Syrian territory.
Hassan Hanizadeh – Middle East affairs expert
Strategic Council Online: An expert on European affairs, referring to a quartet summit of Europe and Turkey on Syria on the sidelines of the NATO summit in London, said: Turkey has been seeking a series of political concessions over developments in northern Syria in recent years.
Strategic Council Online: Former Middle East Director-General of the IRI Foreign Ministry believes that after the recent drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, the authorities in Riyadh have concluded that the crisis is getting out of control.
Strategic Council Online: The US wants to somehow continue its relative support for Kurdish groups in northern Syria, which is not very pleasing to Turkey, so although at the current juncture it seems that the US support for Turkey’s military presence in Syria would remain within the limits of the agreements between the parties, the trend of these developments in the long-term will depend on the conditions Syria would face.
Siamak Kakai – Turkish Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: Under the current circumstances, the US will maintain a presence in Syria, in the form that it will relinquish less important regions either to Turkey or even indirectly to Russia or Damascus central government, but it will still keep sensitive centres like oil wells or strategic points that it thinks could cut off the communication lines between Iran and the Mediterranean under control.
Amir Ali Abolfateh – American Affairs Expert
The Strategic Council Online: Former Middle East Director-General at the IRI Ministry of Foreign Affairs said drafting the Syrian constitution is a very difficult process, adding that an understanding between international and regional powers could help this trend accomplish its goals otherwise each of these players has tools to disrupt the agreement.
Strategic Council Online: A meeting between US delegation led by Vice President Mike Pence and Turkish officials in Ankara ended with the announcement of a 120-hour ceasefire in northern Syria. Following the talks, a joint 13-article statement was issued between Turkey and the United States, which, in addition to sparking harsh criticism by Trump’s opponents to its clauses, the Syrian presidential adviser described it “vague.”
Hamideh Safamanesh – International Relations Researcher
Strategic Council Online: An expert on regional issues said the agreement between Russia and Turkey on northern Syria was in the interest of all parties, adding: “If Russia can persuade armed Kurdish fighters to keep away from Turkish borders, which is very difficult to do, the reducing of the tension will continue.”
Strategic Council Online: Developments in Syria and measures taken by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to fill US military withdrawal from Syria over the past few weeks have further exposed the weakness and desperation of the European governments in pursuit of their political and security goals in the Middle East.
Morteza Makki – European Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online: An expert on regional issues pointed out that opposition parties in the Turkish government, who account for more than 50% of the people’s vote, are definitely opposed to the government decision to invade northeast Syria. He said: On the social and grassroots level too, the invasion has many opponents.
Strategic Council Online: A Turkish affairs expert says Trump has given the green light to Turkey in invading Syria but President Erdogan must be aware that this is a trap by the US to undermine the Turkish economy, military and government in the interests of the Zionist regime.
Strategic Council Online: An expert on regional affairs said that the situation in Turkey is very fragile nowadays, noting that the United States has actually put Turkey into a wasp nest that would be very difficult for Ankara to get rid of.
