U.S.-Turkey Relationship and Syrian Crisis

Year 2015, Volume: 14 Issue: 4, 11 - 19, 26.04.2016

Tufail Ahmad Peerzada

Abstract

The Syrian crisis is an amalgamation of strategic
struggle for power and influence in the Middle East and the internal and
external factors which are based on ethnic lines. Some are supporting the Assad
regime, while as some are against it. The Syrian crisis has now transformed
from a domestic or regional issue to a global security issue. The removal of
Assad is a central step for both the Syrian people as well as the anti-Assad
comp. However, after three years of fighting, the situation seems to be complex
and without any possible outcome. In addition, the presence of extremists
(ISIS) and a strong Iranian and Russian support for the regime, the Syrian
crisis is jeopardizing the interests of both U.S. and Turkey. Both U.S. and
Turkey have numerous national security interests at stake in Syria. However,
the interests of both the countries do not perfectly match with each other.
Turkey is unhappy about U.S’s unwillingness to help the opposition to topple
the Assad regime. Different priorities in the conflict have strained the
bilateral relations. The aim of this paper is to analyse the U.S-Turkey
relations in the light of recent Syrian crisis. An attempt will be made to
highlight the issues which strain the bilateral relationship. This paper will
highlight the divergent and convergent points in U.S-Turkey relations. This
paper will also focus on U.S and Turkish policies vis-à-vis Syria. The policies
of both the countries will be critically evaluated

Keywords

U.S.-Turkey Relationship, Syrian Crisis

References

• Mortan I. Abramowitz, Eric S. Edelman, “U.S.-Turkish Cooperation toward a Post-Assad Syria”, Bipartisan Policy Center, April 2013, p 9.
• Mortan, U.S.-Turkish Cooperation Toward a Post-Assad Syria, p 5.