Ankara warms to idea of political solution in Syria
Ankara seems to be growing more amenable to a solution that includes the Syrian regime, unhappy about perceptions that it has used the international effort against the Islamic State as an excuse to resume strikes against the Kurdistan Workers Party.
Disturbed by the bad press it is receiving at home and abroad and continuous questions about its commitment to fighting the Islamic State (IS), the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is signaling that Ankara is about to change gears and contribute more visibly to the international effort against the jihadist group.
Ankara also seems to have come around to acknowledging that defeating the regime of President Bashar al-Assad militarily will not be possible as long as it continues to get support from Russia and Iran, and is saying it supports a political settlement that would include input from Moscow and Tehran.
Last week, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters in Kuala Lumpur, where he met his US and Russian counterparts on the sidelines of the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, that Turkey would move against IS soon in a comprehensive manner.
“We have made progress on the agreement with the US on the technical aspects of opening the Incirlik Air Base for use, and US jets have started to arrive there. We will start a comprehensive battle together against IS soon,” Cavusoglu said.
