Idlib and the collapse of Erdogan’s foreign policy
Gambling on Russia to secure results in Syria turns out to be Ankara’s biggest miscalculation
![1203434241 ANKARA, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 26: President of Turkey and leader of Justice and Development (AK) Party, Recep Tayyip Erdogan greets party members as he attends his party's group meeting at Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ankara, Turkey on February 26, 2020. (Photo by Ali Balikci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2020/02/GettyImages-1203434241.jpg/GettyImages-1203434241.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=cJcFfcKO)
The implications of the Turkish-Russian fallout over Idlib go beyond Syria and represent a collapse of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Islamist-driven approach to foreign policy.
Turkey is an isolated country today that has confrontational ties with the United States and Russia, as well as the Arab world and Europe. It is trying to ensure its vital security interests against this difficult backdrop.