Syrian factor in Turkey - NATO relations: A minor barrier or the beginning of the end of bloc solidarity?

Occupation: Post-graduate student, School of International Relations, St. Petersburg State University
Affiliation: St. Petersburg State University
Address: Russian Federation, St.Petersburg

Journal name

Asia and Africa Today

Edition

Issue 6

Pages

20-26

Abstract

The article reveals the impact of the Syrian civil war on relations between Turkey and NATO led by the United States of America. The main points that influenced the growth of crisis tendencies in bilateral relations were analyzed.

Since Turkey joined NATO until the early 21st century, it has been a staunch ally of the USA. However, when the Justice and Development Party of R.T.Erdogan came to power in Turkey, the strategic courses of Ankara and Washington gradually began to diverge due to dissatisfaction of the first one with the position of a “junior partner”.

The situation became seriously complicated after the outbreak of the civil war in Syria. At the first stage, the parties acted relatively friendly, pursuing the same goals in Syria, albeit for different reasons. However, a serious discord in US-Turkish relations was brought about by the emergence of a threat from the Islamic State. In order to counter the Islamists, the US began to support the Syrian Kurds, who, in Erdogan's eyes, posed a threat to Turkey's national security. It resulted in the separation of Turkey from the USA and NATO, the strengthening of ties with potential opponents of the Alliance, Russia and Iran, as well as the conduct of three major military operations against the Syrian Kurds.

Conclusions were drawn about the significance of these events for Russia, as well as the prospects for the development of the conflict between Turkey and NATO. Particular attention was paid to the influence of such factors as the coming to power in the USA of the Democratic administration as well as the change in mind in Turkish society.

Keywords

NATO, the USA, Turkey, Syrian civil war, Russia

Received

03.03.2021

Publication date

11.06.2021

Number of characters

24619

Cite

GOST	Yurk A. Syrian factor in Turkey - NATO relations: A minor barrier or the beginning of the end of bloc solidarity? // Asia and Africa Today – 2021. – Issue 6 C. 20-26 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://asaf-today.ru/S032150750015268-6-1 (circulation date: 25.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750015268-6
MLA	Yurk, Aleksey V "Syrian factor in Turkey - NATO relations: A minor barrier or the beginning of the end of bloc solidarity?." Asia and Africa Today 6 (2021):20-26. DOI: 10.31857/S032150750015268-6
APA	Yurk A. (2021). Syrian factor in Turkey - NATO relations: A minor barrier or the beginning of the end of bloc solidarity?. Asia and Africa Today (6), pp.20-26 DOI: 10.31857/S032150750015268-6

100 rub.

When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 0, views: 679

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. Taspinar O. Turkey’s Middle East Policies: Between Neo-Ottomanism and Kemalism. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. October 7, 2008. https://carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=22209 (accessed 13.03.2020)

2. Suleymanov A.V. 2015. Turkish-Syrian relations: yesterday and today. Asia and Africa today. 2015, № 12, pp. 32-38. (In Russ.)

3. Frolov A.V. 2015. Turkey - Syria: metamorphoses of Middle Eastern politics. Pathways to Peace and Security. 2015, № 1, pp. 119-132. (In Russ.)

4. Ivanova I.I. 2011. Turkey and the events in the Near East. Asia and Africa today. 2011, № 5, pp. 6-9. (In Russ.)

5. Vasiliev A.M. Russian Middle East Policy. From Lenin to Putin. Moscow, 2018, 670 p. (In Russ). ISBN 978-5-227-07511-6

6. Vasiliev A.M. Syrian Tragedy. The Birth of Monsters. Asia and Africa today. 2017, № 6. (In Russ.)

7. Schmitt E. CIA Said to Aid in Steering Arms to Syrian Opposition. The New York Times. June 21, 2012. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/world/middleeast/cia-said-to-aid-in-steering-arms-to-syrian-rebels.html (accessed 13.03.2020)

8. Ratnam G. Joe Biden Is the Only Honest Man in Washington. Foreign Policy. October 7, 2014. https://foreignpolicy.com/2014/10/07/joe-biden-is-the-only-honest-man-in-washington/ (accessed 28.08.2020)

9. Letsch C. US drops weapons and ammunition to help Kurdish fighters in Kobani. The Guardian. October 20, 2014. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/20/turkey-iraqi-kurds-kobani-isis-fighters-us-air-drops-arms (accessed 06.12.2020)

10. Yevseenko A.S. 2019. USA and Kurds: Relations in the Civil War in Syria. Russia and America in the 21st Century. Special Issue. (In Russ.). https://rusus.jes.su/s207054760005315-3-1 (accessed 15.03.2020)

11. Sokolov I. "We don't need a hostile organization": why Erdogan's adviser called for raising the issue of leaving NATO. (In Russ.). https://russian.rt.com/world/article/451344-erdogan-turciya-nato (accessed 15.03.2020)

12. Rogan T. How Trump Can Stop Erdoğan from Playing the United States. The National Review. December 29, 2016. https://www.nationalreview.com/2016/12/donald-trump-turkey-erdogan-tougher-stance/ (accessed 15.03.2020)

13. Seligman L., Toosi N. Pentagon, State Department envoy clash over sending Patriot missiles to Turkey. Politico. February 28, 2020. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/28/turkey-patriot-missiles-pentagon-118256 (accessed 16.03.2020)

14. Humud C.E., Blanchard C.M., Nikitin M.B.D. Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response. Congressional Research Service. March 25, 2019, 40 p.

15. Humud C.E., Blanchard C.M. Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response. Congressional Research Service. February 12, 2020, 37 p.

16. Safi I., Fabrichnikov I. Ismail Safi: Get Rid of Historical Bias and Focus on Today. Russia in Global Affairs. (In Russ.). https://globalaffairs.ru/articles/izbavitsya-ot-predubezhdenij/ (accessed 21.12.2020)