Turkey scrambles to cut its losses in Syria
Turkey’s Syria policies "lie in shreds"; Syrian Kurds coordinate with government forces in Aleppo; would Russia support federalism in Syria?
Turkey presses for reset with Russia
Amberin Zaman reports that “Turkey’s outsize ambitions in Syria lie in shreds as forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad press on to assert control over the rebel strongholds that remain in Aleppo.”
This column wrote last week that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Syria policies hit a dead end in Aleppo. Zaman picks up this theme, noting a near-frantic desire by Ankara for a reset in Turkish-Russian ties, including a visit by Prime Minister Binali Yildirim to Russia Dec. 6.
“Until recently, most pundits had reckoned that Turkey would not make any dramatic changes to its Syria policy until a new administration takes office in Washington,” Zaman writes. “This, however, was premised on the Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, who echoed Turkey’s calls for a no-fly zone in Syria, winning the election. President-elect Trump, on the other hand, has voiced deep skepticism about the rebels, prompting Turkey to consider cutting its losses.”
