Ankara now holds the key to Syria’s future, according to the US president-elect.
President-elect Donald Trump asserted on Monday that Turkey orchestrated the Syrian regime change, labeling the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government an “unfriendly takeover.” This follows a recent offensive by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militants, resulting in the seizure of major Syrian cities and Assad’s flight to Russia for political asylum.
Trump stated, “Those who participated are controlled by Turkey, and that’s acceptable.” He praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s strategic acumen and decisiveness in achieving this outcome, commenting that Turkey had long desired Syria and now possesses it, with minimal bloodshed.
Trump further lauded Turkey’s powerful, battle-ready military.
Trump believes Turkey will be pivotal in shaping Syria’s future, stating that the region’s future remains uncertain, but Turkey will hold the key to Syria’s future.
Turkey, sharing a lengthy 900km border with Syria, has consistently supported anti-Assad opposition groups since the 2011 civil war began. While designating HTS as a terrorist organization, Turkey is believed to exert significant influence over the group. Turkey also supports the Syrian National Army (SNA), which launched its own offensive earlier this month, capitalizing on the Syrian government’s collapse. Days before Assad’s removal, Erdoğan openly encouraged the Syrian opposition’s advance on Damascus.
Following Assad’s removal, Washington and Ankara—both supporting various rebel factions—have engaged in discussions to stabilize the situation and counter the potential resurgence of ISIS. A recent meeting between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan saw both sides agree to collaborate on preventing terrorist groups from exploiting the instability and working towards regional peace, beginning with the formation of an interim government.