Questions remain over Turkey's training of Syrian opposition
Many argue that Ankara’s prime motive in signing the accord is to improve strained ties with Washington.
Following months of delay and speculation, Turkey and the United States have finally signed an agreement to train and equip moderate Syrian fighters whose prime objective, according to Washington, will be to fight the Islamic State (IS).
Few details of the accord have been released, though, raising fresh questions about the undertaking. There are also signs that Ankara and Washington are not in full agreement about the objectives of the program.
Given its reluctance to date to get involved actively against IS, there are also questions as to why Turkey decided to participate in a program that, contrary to its expectations, does not involve the targeting of the Bashar al-Assad regime by the United States.
Many argue this is essentially a fence-mending effort by Ankara, given its current frosty ties with Washington due to differences over Syria, Egypt and Libya. Remarks by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu, who signed the accord for Turkey on Feb. 19, also reinforce this view.
