Syria and Turkey continue at loggerheads

While there has been a degree of strain in relations between Syria and
Turkey for decades, recent events have created additional stress on an
already tenuous relationship. Thanks to Turkish support of a change in
the current regime leading Syria, a great deal of unrest has been added
to the situation. While, at one point, there was talk of reworking some
of the border restrictions between the two nations, that has fallen out
of favour as some Syrians see Turkey’s move as being not just opposition
to actions taken by the Syrian government over the last year, but
actually the beginning of a plot to overthrow the country’s government
and even the possibility of military intervention.  

Syria has
taken issue with Turkey’s status as a safe haven for Syrian insurgents.
Those in Turkey who support the sanctions see them as necessary to send a
clear message that Turkey does agree with what is happening in Syria
and think changes should be made. For those in Syria who support the
current regime, this is seen as interference by Turkey in the country’s
internal politics.

Turkish officials have been pushing for
sanctions against Syria for some time, beginning in March this year.
When the United Nations balked at the idea of sanctions in early
October, Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, made it quite
clear that whatever the UN decided to do, Turkey would move forward.
“Naturally the veto … cannot prevent sanctions,” Erdogan commented,
adding, “We will of necessity implement a package of sanctions.”

While
there are now indications that the intervention of the Arab League may
lead to concessions by Syrian officials that will ultimately bring
closure to the current crop of issues that have led to the bloodshed and
the attention of Turkey and other nations on the internal affairs of
the country, there is no doubt that the relationship between Syria and
Turkey has been severely damaged. Differences of opinion on water
rights, and other issues interchangeably described as either human
rights issues or imperialist designs, are putting great strain on the
countries’ relations.

Whilst in recent years the two countries
had seemed to reach a position that enabled them to carve out a working
relationship, the chances are that the events of the last several months
will take some time to resolve. How this will affect the balance of
power in the Middle East over the coming years and what the action of
Turkey means in terms of the nation’s strengthening ties to the West,
remains to be seen.