Turkey and Germany huddle over looming Idlib operation
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas’s visit to Ankara will, above all, serve as a platform for the two countries to discuss major military action expected in the last Syrian rebel stronghold of Idlib.
As the world braces for major military action to take place in the last Syrian rebel stronghold of Idlib, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas’ visit to Ankara on Sept. 5 is set to bring forth some urgent issues.
The meeting between the two states, taking place during a “de-icing” period overcoming sour relations, is expected to cover a number of topics, including detained German citizens in Turkey and the troubles in the Turkish economy. But the most serious and time-sensitive concern for both countries at this time lies abroad.
"We will do everything to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in Idlib,” Maas told reporters in Berlin on Sept. 3 amid reports that the regime in Damascus is preparing for a major Moscow-backed military offensive against Syrian rebel concentrations south of the Turkish border. On Sept. 4, Russia announced that it had begun striking Idlib, after several weeks of a pause, in a bid to support its longtime ally.
“It will be a highly important topic of my visit to Turkey on Wednesday and Thursday this week,” Maas said ahead of his meeting with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu.
